{{Short description|Humorous academic journal}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox journal | title = Annals of Improbable Research | cover = 250px | caption = | former_name = <!-- or |former_names= --> | abbreviation = Ann. Improbable Res. | discipline = Science humor | peer-reviewed = | language = English | editor = Marc Abrahams | publisher = Improbable Research, Inc. | country = United States | history = 1994 to present | frequency = Bimonthly | openaccess = | license = | impact = N/A | impact-year = | ISSNlabel = | ISSN = 1079-5146 | eISSN = | CODEN = | JSTOR = | LCCN = | OCLC = | website = http://www.improbable.com | link1 = | link1-name = | link2 = <!-- up to |link5= --> | link2-name = <!-- up to |link5-name= --> | boxwidth = }} The '''''Annals of Improbable Research''''' ('''''AIR''''') is a bimonthly 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 classifieds and advertisements for a medical plan called HMO-NO, and a very odd letters page. The magazine is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
''AIR'' awards the annual science Ig Nobel Prizes,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Winter|first=Lisa|date=14 September 2021|title=2021 Ig Nobel Prizes Honor Decongestant Orgasms, Rhino Transport|url=https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/2021-ig-nobel-prizes-honor-decongestant-orgasms-rhino-transport-69183|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-31|website=The Scientist|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915112418/https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/2021-ig-nobel-prizes-honor-decongestant-orgasms-rhino-transport-69183 |archive-date=2021-09-15 }}</ref> for ten achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think". ''AIR'' also runs the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://improbable.com/projects/hair/|title=Projects. Hair|work=Improbable Research|date=28 September 2020}}</ref>
== History == ''AIR'' is not the first science parody magazine. The ''Journal of Irreproducible Results'' (''JIR'') was founded by Alex Kohn and Harry J. Lipkin in 1955, but its editorial staff, including editor Marc Abrahams, left 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.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}
== Profile == 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".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.improb.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i5/murphy/murphy0.html|title=Improbable Research|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014113936/http://www.improb.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i5/murphy/murphy0.html|archive-date=2009-10-14}}</ref> It was revised, expanded and later published in June 2006 as the book ''A History of Murphy's Law''. Another example: it was scientifically proved and waggishly reported that instruments can "distinguish shit from Shinola."<ref name="Cellannia">{{cite web |url=https://www.neatorama.com/2014/02/11/Spectroscopic-Discrimination-of-Shit-from-Shinola/ |title=Spectroscopic Discrimination of Shit from Shinola |author=Miss Cellania |date=February 11, 2014 |website=The Annals of Improbable Research |access-date=December 18, 2016}}</ref>
==See also== * ''Journal of Irreproducible Results'' * ''Journal of Polymorphous Perversity'' * ''Worm Runner's Digest''
== References == <references/>
== External links == * {{Official website}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Annals Of Improbable Research}} Category:Bimonthly magazines published in the United States Category:Satirical magazines published in the United States Category:Science and technology magazines published in the United States Category:Humor magazines Category:Ig Nobel Prize Category:Magazines established in 1995 Category:Magazines published in Boston Category:Professional humor Category:Bimonthly journals