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Research can sometimes feel a bit dull. But now and then, a problem arises that can't be solved with standard experiments. That's when scientists let their creativity run wild and, dare we say, get a little eccentric. From training fish to drive (on land) to experimenting with urine on crops, here are some of the most bizarre endeavors researchers have undertaken!
10. Identifying a Creep
What defines someone as creepy? In 2016, a group of psychologists delved into this intriguing question. Their aim was to compile a list of characteristics that could label someone as an unsettling presence. To gain insight into what people find creepy, the study surveyed 1,342 participants, asking them about the behaviors or traits that made them uncomfortable when meeting a stranger. Some answers were unexpected.
While the participants did find others creepy when there was a sense of physical threat or when the individuals were clowns or appeared disheveled, some traits were more peculiar. People who collect dolls, insects, or reptiles made the list. Bird-watchers too. Odd behaviors like laughing unexpectedly, smiling unnervingly, or frequently licking your lips were also off-putting to others, making them want to keep their distance.
9. The Brazil Nut Puzzle Finally Explained
When you think of physics conundrums, you might expect theories about quantum mechanics, invisible forces, or even particles. But some physicists are more concerned with the behavior of snacks. Specifically, why do large nuts, like Brazil nuts, always end up at the top of the packet? Shouldn't the heaviest ones sink to the bottom?
In 2021, scientists decided to put this question to the test by giving a packet of nuts a series of vigorous shakes. After each shake, the packet was scanned to create a 3D view of the contents. To their surprise, it wasn't the size or weight that caused Brazil nuts to rise to the top.
It was all about their orientation. As the packet moved, perhaps during transport to a store, the horizontal Brazil nuts gradually aligned upward (it took 50 shakes for this to happen). This allowed more space for the smaller nuts to sink downward, ultimately pushing the larger ones upwards.
8. Mastering Echolocation
Scientists have long been aware that a small group of people possess the ability to echolocate. In other words, they use tongue clicks or finger snaps instead of sight to navigate their surroundings. But could this skill be taught to others, and if so, how quickly could it be learned? The results were unexpected.
A study published in 2021 found that both individuals who are legally blind and those with full sight could be taught to echolocate in just 10 weeks. Not only could they navigate through a maze, but by interpreting the echoes from their clicks, participants were also able to identify the orientation and size of objects within the maze.
7. The Lost Letter Challenge
In 2012, anthropologists scattered 300 letters across 20 neighborhoods in London. The experiment aimed to test human altruism. If someone found a letter, would they go through the effort to deliver it to a stranger’s home? The addresses were actually the homes of the researchers, who sat back and collected the letters as they arrived.
Curiously, about 87% of letters left in wealthier neighborhoods were returned, whereas only 37% in poorer areas made their way back. The study revealed that neither ethnicity nor population density played a role in altruism. Instead, the focus shifted to socioeconomic factors, which need further exploration to fully comprehend the reasons behind these findings.
For now, the researchers hypothesize that fewer letters were returned from disadvantaged areas—not because people care less, but because the struggles of daily life make them more reluctant to pick up stray letters from the pavement.
6. Pigs in Suitcases
Criminals often dispose of bodies in suitcases, and just like other crime scenes, authorities need to determine the time of death. This sparked the world’s largest experiment aimed at understanding the forensics behind this gruesome practice, particularly focusing on the role of carrion insects.
When a body is left exposed, carrion insects quickly swarm and provide valuable information. These flies and beetles can help forensic entomologists determine the time of death, detect the presence of drugs, and even indicate if the victim died elsewhere and what type of environment they were in. However, a suitcase disrupts this natural process by preventing insects from colonizing the body as they normally would.
To study this disruption, a 2022 experiment placed stillborn piglets in over 70 bins and suitcases, leaving them outdoors. Surprisingly, carrion insects still delivered essential details, albeit in a different manner. By examining how the insects and eggs clustered on the containers' exteriors, which larvae made their way inside, and the dead insects within, the researchers could determine key aspects of toxicology, body movement, the time and cause of death, and how the weather affected the decomposition process.
5. Urinating on Crops
Few would want to eat bread knowing the farmer used urine on the wheat. Yet, this modern disgust overlooks an ancient practice. For thousands of years, human urine was used as a highly effective fertilizer for crops. Over time, the practice faded and now persists only in some parts of Asia.
In recent years, scientists have revisited this old practice, wondering if it could benefit rural farmers, especially those working with nutrient-deficient soil where commercial fertilizers are not an option. Urine is free and packed with phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen—key nutrients for plants. A large-scale experiment was conducted in the Republic of Niger, where female farmers were trained on how to safely use urine as a fertilizer.
After three years and 681 trials, the women produced millet crops that were 30% more abundant than usual. The results were so impressive that even after the experiment concluded, over a thousand women farmers in Niger continued to fertilize their crops with sanitized urine.
4. An Experiment That Will Last 500 Years
A few years ago, a researcher rediscovered a petri dish he'd forgotten about for 10 years. When he realized that the dried bacteria inside could be revived with a little moisture, it sparked an ambitious investigation. In 2014, scientists from Scotland, Germany, and the U.S. teamed up to determine how long bacteria can survive. This led to the creation of the 500-year experiment. (link 7)
Here's how it works: Two species of bacteria were selected and sealed in 800 glass vials. About 400 of these vials were encased in lead to minimize DNA damage from natural radiation. For the first 24 years, scientists will open a few vials every other year to assess the health and viability of the bacteria’s DNA. For the remaining 475 years, the vials will be opened and tested every quarter-century.
The bacteria samples have a good chance of surviving for 500 years. However, the experiment itself may not make it. The study relies on ongoing collaboration between the UK, the U.S., and Germany. Who knows if future scientists will remain dedicated to the project? There's also the possibility that the box containing the vials could be lost before the study is completed.
3. The Fishmobile
Can fish navigate around obstacles on land? While fish and land don't naturally mix, that didn't stop researchers in Israel from designing a car for goldfish—basically, an aquarium on wheels. The objective was to explore how fish learn to maneuver and whether their brains could adapt to a journey on solid ground.
Six goldfish were trained to operate the Fish-Operated Vehicle (FOV). Initially, the fish swam in random patterns, but over time, they seemed to grasp the task, becoming more controlled and methodical in their movements. The goldfish quickly learned how to make the FOV move forward, although thinking beyond their water-based instincts posed a greater challenge.
Through simple obstacle training and plenty of rewards, the fish stopped aimlessly swimming around and began heading directly for their targets. When they reached a target, they were rewarded with a snack. When obstacles appeared in their path, the fish adapted by learning to navigate around them to reach their goal—and a tasty treat. This demonstrated that fish can be surprisingly resourceful in unfamiliar situations when food is at stake.
2. Turning Water into Metal
In theory, any material can become metallic if compressed enough. When subjected to immense pressure, the atoms or molecules pack together so tightly that they begin to exchange electrons. This can give the material metallic properties, such as electrical conductivity. However, turning water into metal presents unique challenges.
To make this transformation happen, water requires an enormous amount of pressure—around 15 million atmospheres. Such extreme pressure isn’t easily achievable in most labs. Additionally, the experiment needs alkali metals like sodium and potassium, which are quick to share electrons and help reduce the need for such high pressure. The catch? Alkali metals explode when they come into contact with water.
In 2021, scientists managed to pull off the impossible. They successfully turned water into metal by slowing down the explosive reaction, giving the alkali metals time to exchange electrons with the water. This was done inside a vacuum chamber, where the metals were exposed to water vapor. The result was a fleeting metal droplet that resembled gold and conducted electricity, but only for a few seconds.
1. Brains with Eyes (Sort Of)
Stem cells can be manipulated to become any type of cell, a capability that allows scientists to grow miniature versions of human organs, known as organoids, to study diseases. In 2021, researchers aimed to use this ability to address early retinal disorders. Their goal? To create a tiny brain with eyes.
Previous research has separately created brain organoids and eye organoids (which are not full eyeballs but an early developmental stage called optic cups). However, no one had ever successfully created an organoid combining both.
In this new study, researchers managed to create several organoids that contained both brain and eye tissues. The result was a yellow blob with two black dots, representing the optic cups. These cups were light-sensitive and developed at the same pace as human eye development in embryos. They even formed corneal tissue and lenses. This eerie-looking organoid has the potential to aid scientists in studying eye diseases, treatments, and brain-eye interactions during early development.
