Farting Fish: and 49 other weird and wonderful scientific discoveries

I'm sure you've heard of the Nobel Prize, but have you heard of the Ig Nobel Prize? Every year, this prize celebrates unusual areas of research that first make people laugh, and then make them think. The founder of the awards says: "The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honour the imaginative, and spur people's interest in science, medicine and technology". In this brilliantly funny, fully illustrated non-fiction book, we celebrate 50 of the funniest, silliest and most interesting winners of the Ig Nobel Prize, including:* the discovery that herrings communicate by farting (and why that almost caused a world war!)* research into the chemical compounds responsible for smelly feet* a rigorous analysis of soggy breakfast cereal* an automatic dog-to-human language translation device* the invention of fart-proof underwear* a method of collecting whale snot using remote-control helicopters.Each entry includes a Top Trumps-style card with ratings such as "silliness factor", "usefulness", "gross factor", and more. Kids and grown-ups alike will love sharing the amazing facts they've discovered.

About the author

Alice Harman is an experienced writer and editor, specialising in children's books. She has worked on several bestselling and award-winning books and loves diving into all sorts of subjects, from art and science to history and global issues. 

Sam Wedelich is an author, illustrator, speaker, and cartoonist based in Nyack, NY. 

Product details

• Assisted by: Sam Wedelich (Illustration)
• Authors: Alice Harman, Harman Alice, Sam Wedelich
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln
• Content: Book
• Product form: Hardback
• Publication date: 21.08.2025
• Subject: Children's and young people's books > Non-fiction books / Non-fiction picture books > Natural science, technology
• EAN: 9780711298804
• ISBN: 978-0-7112-9880-4
• Age Recommendation: ages 6 to 10
• Subjects: Humor, groß, Girls, Cartoons, Stem, JUVENILE NONFICTION / Humor / General, True stories, Exploration, JUVENILE NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Discoveries, non-fiction, Experiments, JUVENILE NONFICTION / Technology / Inventions, Steam, Humour, Boys, Quarto, children's book, Winner, General knowledge & trivia (Children's / Teenage), Scientists, medal, Humour & jokes (Children's / Teenage), inventions, discoveries, Nobel prize, achievements, Silly, Awards, Young Explorers, Interest age: from c 6 years, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Humour and jokes, humorous illustrations, surprising, useful, kids book, hilarious, funny non-fiction, inventors, curious, find out, Reluctant Readers, funny book, Children’s / Teenage general interest: General knowledge and interesting facts, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Science and technology, age 6, fun facts for kids, age 10, age 7, age 8, age 9, science book for kids, gift for 10 year old, incredible, happy yak, top trumps, gift for 6 year old, gift for 7 year old, gift for 8 year old, ig nobel prize, gift for 9 year old, alice harman, sam wedelich