Scientists have been honored with the Ig Nobel Prizes for their unusual and imaginative research, including studies on cockroach milk and the mechanics of nose-blowing. The 36th annual Ig Nobel Prizes, known for celebrating quirky scientific achievements, took place for the first time outside the United States due to visa concerns. The ceremony, held in Zurich, Switzerland, recognized ten research teams for their creative and unconventional contributions to science. The event, organized by the Annals of Improbable Research, a digital magazine known for its humorous take on science, has shifted its location to Europe after 35 years in the U.S. At the ceremony, researchers received custom trophies shaped like a cross between a mushroom and a human foot. Among the honorees were Matilda Brindle and Stuart West from the University of Oxford, who explored the evolutionary history of kissing, and Catherine F. Talbot from the Florida Institute of Technology. Another notable recipient was the late Dr. Tokuji Unno, who studied the science behind blowing one’s nose. A research team from the University of Vienna also received recognition for an experiment in which they buried 1,000 pairs of underwear in over 25 countries to study how soil organisms contribute to decomposition. As part of the event's tradition, attendees launched paper airplanes toward the stage to open the ceremony. Organizers have announced that future Ig Nobel Prizes will alternate between Zurich and other European countries. The 2027 ceremony will be held in Antwerp, Belgium. Previous events took place at prestigious U.S. universities such as Harvard and MIT, but there are no immediate plans to return to the United States. Marc Abrahams, the event’s master of ceremonies and editor of the Annals of Improbable Research, explained in March that it has become unsafe for guests to visit the U.S. due to visa-related issues. The Ig Nobel Prizes are distinct from the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded in October and have no connection to the satirical event. The Ig Nobel ceremony, with its mix of humor and scientific curiosity, continues to celebrate research that challenges conventional thinking and sparks public interest in science.