Ig Nobel for chemists who analysed the smell of cinema audiences

The 2021 Ig Nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to a group of researchers who analysed the odours emitted by cinema-goers to try to determine the levels of violence, sex, antisocial behaviour, drug use and bad language in the films they were watching.

The team behind the work were presented with their award by Nobel laureate Barry Sharpless in an online ceremony. Sharpless noted that ‘research on smell is undervalued and it’s very important’, and explained that his experience memorising the smell of more than 3000 stockroom chemicals was pivotal in his development as a chemist – something that would likely be advised against today.