Papers That Make Us Laugh

For some time now, our lab has been gathering examples of the peer-reviewed literature that are amusing, unique, or sometimes just plain silly. Some of these papers were discovered while Theresa was working on a piece in the Plant Science Bulletin on predatory publishing. So in honors of April Fool’s Day (April 1), we thought we would share our favorites with you.

What’s the Deal with Birds – by Daniel T. Baldassarre, published in the Scientific Journal of Research and Reviews (2020).

Abstract: Many people wonder: what’s the deal with birds? This is a common query. Birds are pretty weird. I mean, they have feathers. WTF? Most other animals don’t have feathers. To investigate this issue, I looked at some birds. I looked at a woodpecker, a parrot, and a penguin. They were all pretty weird! In conclusion, we may never know the deal with birds, but further study is warranted.

Mitochondria: Structure, Function, and Clinical Relevance – by LM George and A Kin, published in the Austin Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2017). This paper is a spoof on Star Wars, by mentioning “midi-chlorians” and “microscopic life forms” said to lie inside the cells of Jedi and gives them their powers. Also invoked in the article is “Yoda’s ataxia” and “Wookie’s Disease” and an embedded monologue about a Dark Sith Lord.

Abstract: The mitochondrion is a double membrane-bound organelle found in the cells of all eukaryotes and is responsible for most of the cell’s supply of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). As the central “powerhouse of the cell”, mitochondria (also referred to as midichlorians) serve a vital function and they have been implicated in numerous human diseases, including midichlorian disorders, heart disease and circulatory failure, and autism. In this paper, the structure and function of the midichlorian is reviewed with a view to understanding how the pathophysiology of midichlorian disorders can point the way towards translational treatments

Get Me Off Your Fucking Email List – by David Mayières and Eddie Kohler, published in International Journal of Advanced Computer Technology (2014). This paper was accepted for publication after the authors submitted a manuscript composed entirely of the same sentence, including figures, to express their dissatisfaction with constantly receiving annoying emails.

Abstract: Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fuck- ing mailing list. Get me off your fucking mail- ing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fuck- ing mailing list. Get me off your fucking mail- ing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fuck- ing mailing list. Get me off your fucking mail- ing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list. Get me off your fucking mailing list.

The Importance of Stupidity in Scientific Research – by Martin A. Schwartz, an essay published in the Journal of Cell Science. This short piece emphasizes that the reality of doing good science is recognizing that there are times when we won’t know the answer (and may feel somewhat “stupid”) that that just means that we will be more likely to stretch ourselves more and ultimately make big discoveries.

The Unsuccessful Self-Treatment of a Case of “Writer’s Block” – by Dennis Upper, published in Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (1974 – a classic!). The title says it all.