The 2026 Ig Nobel Prizes, a satirical awards program recognizing unusual scientific work, are presented in Zurich to ten research teams. Reported winners include studies of “cockroach milk,” research into the evolutionary history of kissing, and work on the science of nose-blowing.
Several outlets also mention other eccentric topics honored that year, such as a “underwear soil test,” and a study involving taunting venomous snakes. Coverage generally describes the awards as playful but grounded in real, peer-reviewed research questions, with some outlets noting that the ceremony can highlight broader scientific issues behind the odd premises.
A key context across reports is that the ceremony is held outside the United States for the first time in its 35-year history. Sources attribute the Europe shift to travel concerns for attendees. Different outlets emphasize different standout award topics, but the overall set of categories—cockroach milk, nose-blowing, kissing evolution, underwear-based testing, and snake-related work—is consistent.
