Ig Nobel Prize: Genius!

I read today about the Ig Nobel Prize.

Marc Abrahams, editor of science humour magazine Annals of Improbable Research, which co-sponsors the awards, said: "The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honour the imaginative - and spur people's interest in science, medicine and technology."

All the research is real and published in often prestigious journals.

The winners are given a one-minute acceptance speech, the time policed by a loud eight-year-old girl.

The winner of this year's prize designed a 'teen repellent' device that makes a high-pitched noise inaudible to adults but annoying to teenagers. I know some lovely teenagers, so not sure I would be in the market for one, but it's kinda funny!

Last year's Ig Nobel prize for Economics, however, is definitely something that would have got my vote. In fact, it's the solution to all my problems!!! The winning design? An alarm clock that runs away and hides when it goes off. :)

OK, so it might not be the solution to alllllllllll my problems, but it would certainly solve the particular problem I have of waking in the mornings but not staying awake long enough to get out of bed before falling asleep again! Three alarms every morning doesn't yet do it for me. My ever-patient and gracious flatmates bear with me and knock on my door every morning at just the right time. Sometimes, like this morning, I even seek international help by asking for a phonecall or text message from someone on a slightly more decent timezone. (Thanks, Caro!)

But an alarm clock that runs away and hides itself when it goes off - that is pure genius!! Surely that would have to work for me! The ideal Christmas present, if you're looking for something for me :)