Awards / Honors 04 September 2026
Ig Nobel Prize 2026: Indian Scientists Win Chemistry Honor for Cockroach Milk Study
Why in the News?
An international team led by Indian scientists from the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru, won the 2026 Ig Nobel Chemistry Prize for their study on cockroach milk.
Key Features / Major Points:
About Ig Nobel Prize: Organized by the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research, the awards honor achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think." The 36th annual ceremony took place at the Zurich Convention Center, Switzerland.
The Winning Research: Sanchari Banerjee, Subrahmanyan Ramaswamy, and their team discovered that protein crystals formed inside the midgut of Pacific beetle cockroach embryos contain three times more energy than standard dairy milk.
Purpose of Award: Designed to celebrate unusual, odd, or funny scientific research that sparks curiosity and leads to meaningful discoveries.
Ig Nobel Prize 2026: Key Category Winners:
Chemistry: Sanchari Banerjee, Subrahmanyan Ramaswamy, et al. — Discovery of high-density energy in cockroach milk crystals.
Technology: Changhong Cao, Jianyu Li, et al. — Using mosquito blood-sucking mouthparts as fine 3D printing nozzles.
Physics: Zhao Pan, Kavee Thurairajah, et al. — Designing splash-free urinals.
Soil Science: Pia Viviani, Atlant Bieri, et al. — Burying cotton underpants across 25 countries to assess soil health.
Static GK Facts:
Ig Nobel Prize: Established: 1991 | Organizer: Annals of Improbable Research magazine.
inStem (Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine): An autonomous institute under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology | Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Q: Indian scientists won the 2026 Ig Nobel Prize in Chemistry for studying the milk crystals of which insect?
A: Pacific Beetle Cockroach (Diploptera punctata)
Q: Which magazine organizes and presents the annual Ig Nobel Prizes?
A: Annals of Improbable Research
Q: Where is the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) located?
A: Bengaluru, Karnataka