More rollercoasters, less kidney stones
Research concluding the advantages of rollercoasters on kidney stones has won the Ig Nobel Prize for Medicine.
Professor David Wartinger at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine began the research after one of his patients returned from a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida.The patient reported that one of his kidney stones became dislodged after a ride on the Big Thunder Mountain ride.
To rule out coincidence, the patient went on the ride several more times and each time a stone popped out.
To test the theory, Prof Wartinger built a silicone model of his patient’s renal system, including artificial kidney stones, and took it with him on numerous rides.
He discovered that Big Thunder Mountain was more effective that other rides Space Mountain or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster because it involves more up and down and side to side movements that “rattle” the rider.
The Medicine Prize is one of 10 Ig Nobels awarded each year for amusing and mind-bending science. They are all genuine studies and nearly all have been published in peer-reviewed journals.
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