Interspersed with the awards were a number of 30-second "Heisenberg Certainty Lectures" given by speakers asked to choose topics relating to their fields of study.

Lecturer Mimi Koehl, a biologist who studies biofluid dynamics at the University of California at Berkeley, delivered her lecture on the aerodynamics of Congress.

In her lecture, she reached the conclusion that, due to Congress' slow speed and enormous drag, it would have almost no lift and make no progress. However, she added, Americans should take heart at the fact that Congress is almost powerless--scientifically speaking--as well.

Last night was Koehl's first time at the Ig Nobel awards, although she said that she had heard broadcasts of previous awards ceremonies on National Public Radio

"I was flattered to be asked," said Koehl. "It might have been different if I had been one of the prize-winners, but the lectures are given by real scientists."

The Ig Nobel awards were founded in 1991 by Abrahams. The awards are intended to make light of "things that a lot of people expect to be intimidated by and not to like," Abrahams said. This category includes everything from science to opera. Besides a number of science demonstrations, last night's ceremony included a four-act opera that mixed tunes from Carmina Burana and other operas into a story that examined the issues of cloning humans and sheep.

Koehl said she feels science needs more events like the Ig Nobels to make it more accessible to the general public.

"I think the general public often thinks that scientists are kind of stuffy and don't have any fun, so any occasion where scientists are just silly is delightful--cause in fact we do have fun," Koehl said.