Japan Brings Home Ig Nobel Prize for Zebra Cows Discovery
A team from Japan took home the biology award for demonstrating that painting cows with black and white stripes did, in fact, halve the amount of times they were bitten by flies, providing a possible alternative to using pesticides.
The scientists noted that flies can be attracted to animals due to factors like their smell, shape, movement, colour - as well as how they polarise light, which black and white stripes do.
They argued that painting cows could reduce pesticide use while preventing more livestock from health problems associated with bites.
"We are deeply honoured to receive this award," Tomoki Kojima, one of the researchers, told the audience in an acceptance speech.
"This award serves as motivation for us to continue striving for excellence," he added, as his colleagues attacked him with fake flies, before he revealed he was wearing a zebra-print shirt and they relented.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkjzxrrkd5o
The scientists noted that flies can be attracted to animals due to factors like their smell, shape, movement, colour - as well as how they polarise light, which black and white stripes do.
They argued that painting cows could reduce pesticide use while preventing more livestock from health problems associated with bites.
"We are deeply honoured to receive this award," Tomoki Kojima, one of the researchers, told the audience in an acceptance speech.
"This award serves as motivation for us to continue striving for excellence," he added, as his colleagues attacked him with fake flies, before he revealed he was wearing a zebra-print shirt and they relented.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkjzxrrkd5o
