BOSTON: A team of researchers from Japan wondered if painting cows with zebra-like stripes would prevent flies from biting them. Another group from Africa and Europe pondered the types of pizza lizards preferred to eat. Those researchers were honored Thursday in Boston with an Ig Nobel, the prize – a handmade model of a human stomach – for comical scientific achievement. In lieu of a big paycheck, each winner was also given a single hand wipe. “When I did this experiment, I hoped that I would win the Ig Nobel. It’s my dream. Unbelievable.

BOSTON: A team of researchers from Japan wondered if painting cows with zebra-like stripes would prevent flies from biting them. Another group from Africa and Europe pondered the…

The tongue-in-cheek scientific awards also recognise research into lizard's preferred pizza and garlicky breastmilk.

Japanese researchers hope their approach can be used instead of pesticides to keep cattle free of insects

A group that explored whether painting zebralike stripes on cows reduced fly bites are among the winners of this year's Ig Nobels.

This year's slate of Ig Nobel Prize winners include researchers who painted cows like zebras and a team who analyzed the pizza preferences of lizards.