VERY BIZARRE RESEARCH PAPERS

DO TEENAGERS PICK THEIR NOSES A LOT?

Andrade, C.; Srihari, B. S. (2001). “A preliminary survey of

rhinotillexomania in an adolescent sample”. 

The Journal of clinical psychiatry

They do. At least according to this research paper

adolescents engage in rhinotillexomania (nose picking)

quite often.

WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BELLY BUTTON FLUFF?

“The Great Bellybutton Lint Survey: The Results

ABC Science Online”

Karl Kruszelnicki of The University of Sydney, Australia,

did an in depth survey of numerous people concerning the

quantity and quality of their bellybutton lint. He found that you

are more likely to have fluff if you are male, older, hairy

and have an inner belly button.

DOES HIGHLIGHTING PREVENT YOU FROM

UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU ARE READING?

Silvers, V.; Kreiner, D. (1997). “The effects of pre-existing

inappropriate highlighting on reading comprehension”. 

Literacy Research and Instruction

When you get a used textbook and it comes with nearly

everything highlighted in a gazillion colours, does it actually

affect your ability to learn the material?

The answer is yes, it does.

HOW MUCH SURFACE AREA DOES AN

INDIAN ELEPHANT HAVE?

Sreekumar, K. P.; Nirmalan, G. (1990). “Estimation of the total

surface area in Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus)”. 

Veterinary research communications

Quite a bit, according to these researchers.

WHAT SORT OF SURFACES ARE THE BEST

FOR DRAGGING SHEEP?

Harvey, J. T.; Culvenor, J.; Payne, W.; Cowley, S.; Lawrance,

M.; Stuart, D.; Williams, R. (2002). “An analysis of the forces

required to drag sheep over various surfaces”. 

Applied ergonomics

In case you ever wondered what sort of surface is the

most conducive to dragging sheep across it, this is your study.

DOES COUNTRY MUSIC CAUSE PEOPLE TO

COMMIT SUICIDE?

Stack, S.; Gundlach, J. (1992). “The Effect of

Country Music on Suicide”. 

Social Forces

Although correlation does not imply causation, people

who listen to country music do in fact suffer from

higher rates of suicide.

IS THE 5 SECOND RULE TRUE?

Greenemeier, Larry. “Fact or Fiction?: The

5-Second Rule for Dropped Food”

While certainly not perfect, this study does lend it

some legitimacy.

CAN PEOPLE SWIM FASTER IN SYRUP OR WATER?

Gettelfinger, B.; Cussler, E. L. (2004). “Will humans swim

faster or slower in syrup?”. 

AIChE Journal

Apparently comparable velocities can be attained in both media.