Annals of Improbable Research

Infobox Journal
title = Annals of Improbable Research


discipline = scientific satire
language = English
abbreviation = AIR
link1 = http://www.improb.com/airchives/paperair/index.htm
link1-name = Content URL
link2 = http://www.improb.com/navstrip/about.html
link2-name = Informational URL
link3 = http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/improb/air
link3-name = AIR at Ingentaconnect
publisher = Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Museum
country = USA
history = 1994 to present
ISSN = 1079-5146The "Annals of Improbable Research" ("AIR") is a bi-monthly magazine devoted to scientific humor, in the form of a satirical take on the standard academic journal. "AIR", published six times a year since 1995, usually showcases at least one piece of scientific research being done on a strange or unexpected topic, but most of their articles concern real or fictional absurd experiments, such as a comparison of apples and oranges using infrared spectroscopy. Other features include such things as ratings of the cafeterias at scientific institutes, fake classified and advertisements for a medical plan called HMO-NO, and a very odd letters page.

Occasional AIR articles are factual and illuminating, if a bit offbeat. For example, in 2003 researcher-documentary producer Nick T. Spark wrote about the background and history of Murphy's Law in a four-part article. "Why Everything You know About Murphy's Law is Wrong" [http://www.improb.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i5/murphy/murphy0.html] " . It was revised, expanded and later published in June 2006 as the book "A History of Murphy's Law".

"AIR" awards the annual science Ig Nobel Prizes, for ten achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think".

History

"AIR" is not the first science parody magazine. The "Journal of Irreproducible Results" was founded by Alex Kohn and Harry Lipkin in 1955, but most of its editorial staff, including AIR Editor Marc Abrahams, split after the magazine was bought by publisher George Scherr in 1994. Scherr filed a number of court actions against "AIR", alleging that it was deceptively similar to the "Journal" and that it had stolen the name "Ig Nobel Prize," but these actions were unsuccessful.

Notable "AIR" Articles

*Scott A. Sandford, " [http://improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume1/v1i3/air-1-3-apples.html Apples and Oranges -- A Comparison] ," "AIR", Vol. 1, No. 3 (1995).

*E. R. Schulman, " [http://improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume2/v2i5/howto.htm How to Write a Scientific Paper] ," "AIR", Vol. 2, No. 5 (1996).

*Fiorella Gambale, " [http://improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume4/v4i4/catfeet.htm Does a Cat Always Land on Its Feet?] ," "AIR", Vol. 4, No. 4 (1998).

*Lucas Kovar, " [http://improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume7/v7i3/germanium-7-3.html Electron Band Structure In Germanium, My Ass] ," "AIR", Vol. 7, No. 3 (2001).

*Ryan Shaun Baker, " [http://improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume8/v8i3/sleep-retardant.html The Sleep-Retardant Properties of My Ex-Girlfriend] ," "AIR", Vol. 8, No. 3 (2002).

*Mark Fonstad, William (Pugatch) Flynn, and Brandon Vogt, " [http://improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i3/kansas.html Kansas Is Flatter Than a Pancake] ," "AIR", Vol. 9, No. 3 (2003).

External links

* [http://www.improb.com/ AIR Website]