New Delhi, Sept. 4 -- Scientific endeavors that seem frivolous at first were recognized for their innovation by Ig Nobels awards organized by the magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Designed as a spoof of the Nobel Prizes, the event took place in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday as a part of the 36th edition of the annual awards with "fungi" as the theme.

A total of 10 pieces of unique research projects were honoured for their scientific achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think," a statement from the organizers said. Nobel laureates dressed as mushrooms performed a new operatic song about fungi to celebrate unusual discoveries. Reinforcing the value of curiosity in science amidst commercial pressures, thes...