Serious, meaningful research

in Boston last week with an Ig Nobel, the prize — a handmade model of a human stomach — for comical scientific achievement.

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A TEAM of researchers from Japan wondered if painting cows with zebralike stripes would prevent flies from biting them.

Another group from Africa and Europe pondered the types of pizza lizards prefer to eat, according to the Associated Press.

These researchers were honoured in Boston last week with an Ig Nobel, the prize a hand-made model of a human stomach for comical scientific achievement.

In lieu of a big pay cheque, each winner was also given a single hand wipe.

“When I did this experiment, I hoped that I would win the Ig Nobel. Its my dream. Unbelievable! Just unbelievable!” said Tomoki Kojima, whose team put tape on Japanese beef cows and then spray-painted them with white stripes.

Kojima appeared on stage in stripes and was surrounded by his fellow researchers, who harassed him with cardboard flies.