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by John Trinkaus, Baruch College, City University of New York
John Trinkaus was awarded the 2003 Ig Nobel Prize in literature, for meticulously collecting data and publishing more than 80 detailed academic reports about things that annoyed him.
This new study is one of a series Professor Trinkaus is publishing in the Annals of Improbable Research.
(Image credit: Flickr user artnoose)
This year, 2009, the public is being advised to frequently wash their hands, or otherwise sanitize their hands, as a precaution against the flu. But to what extent do people actually follow this advice? This study examines one aspect of that question.
The hand Sanitizing Station Study
A number of organizations with high pedestrian traffic volume throughout the day in their buildings have installed hand sanitizing devices in the lobbies.
To glean some information as to the possible usage of such sanitizing stations, a study was conducted at one such facility: an ancillary building (housing faculty practice offices) of a teaching hospital located in the suburbs of a large Northeastern city. This multi-story building was used by approximately 80 physicians and related health care professionals, and their staffs, operating out of about 30 differing private practice offices. Immediately inside the entrance to the building, there was positioned a user-activated hand sanitizing station. Attached to the device was a prominently printed sign, at eye level, which read, in large clear lettering, a message to the effect that everyone entering the facility must disinfect their hands.
Using convenience sampling, 500 observations were made, during the summer of 2009, as to the number of people using the station as they entered the building.
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Male red-eyed tree frogs communicate with each other by shaking their butts. This behavior was captured on infrared camera in the rain forest of Panama by Michael Caldwell of Boston University and his colleagues.
This shaking, known as tremulation, is a form of communication between male tree frogs.
The males are tremulating to establish which is the dominant male. They’re claiming territory for their ‘calling area’ where they spend the night calling for a female mate.
Sometimes, the shaking leads to wrestling among males… and maybe even more shaking, until the loser retreats.
See the video at National Geographic Link -Thanks, Marilyn Terrell!
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Scientists interested in the ability of gray squirrels learn from watching other squirrels have come up with an ingenious (albeit a bit iffy from a moral perspective) study: teaching ‘em to steal!
The study suggests that squirrels are primed to recognise other squirrels as potential food thieves. It also shows that they learn more quickly from real life observations.
Corresponding author Dr Lisa Leaver of the University of Exeter, said: “Our study is significant because it is the first to show that grey squirrels learn from observing others. It adds to growing evidence that all kinds of animals, from humans and other primates to many species of birds, learn from observation and that they have evolved to learn quickly about those things that are most important to their lives – in the case of grey squirrels, gathering and storing nuts.”
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Remember the post about where have all the acorns gone? Well, we’ve found some of ‘em.
When a microwave radio transmitter stopped working, engineers discovered that the antenna had been used as acorn storage device by woodpeckers.
– via reddit
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