Sun Sep 15 11:01:49 UTC 2024: ## Odd Research and Quirky Findings Win Ig Nobels, Downtowns Struggle, and Dating Apps Impact Inequality

**Cambridge, MA -** The annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, celebrating research that makes people laugh and then think, took place last night. This year’s winners included scientists who trained homing pigeons to identify and attack targets (leading to the “Homing Pigeon Missile” category), researchers who discovered dead trout can still swim (dubbed “Aquatic Resurrection”), and those who demonstrated that breathing through one’s buttocks is actually possible (“Butt Breathing”).

**Meanwhile, news from the economic world highlights the ongoing struggle of empty downtowns, which are still impacting local revenue streams despite the return of remote work.** A Bloomberg report suggests these empty spaces are draining municipal coffers, a trend that requires innovative solutions.

**Finally, a study from The Register, a British tech news site, reveals a surprising link between online dating platforms and rising income inequality in the United States.** The paper, titled “Online Dating Caused a Rise in US Income Inequality,” suggests that these platforms may be exacerbating existing societal inequalities by facilitating a more selective and potentially discriminatory dating pool.

These varied reports highlight the diverse and intriguing topics explored in the world of research, ranging from the bizarre and humorous to the serious and impactful.

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