JohnCenaFan28
02-21-2009, 09:38 PM
An acoustics expert is conducting science's silliest experiment - to find the world?s funniest whoopee cushion.
Professor Trevor Cox, 42, has set up a special website where visitors hear six trumping noises and are asked to grade them, reports The Sun.
Prof Cox, of Salford University, Manchester, has a long running interest in whoopee cushions and until recently held the record for having the largest one in the world.
When he's not designing concert halls, he likes to spend his time studying the funnier side to sound.
He said: ?For too long, acoustic engineers have concentrated on issues such as neighbour noise and concert hall acoustics, it is about time we got to the bottom of some more important fundamental issues.
?The idea is to get people thinking about sounds. My theory - although it is unproven at this stage - is that people will laugh the most at something unexpected.
"Like with jokes - it is more funny if people don't expect the punch line. So the most unexpected noises will probably get the most votes."
Organisers at Comic Relief asked Prof Cox to come up with a sound experiment that involved the whoopee cushion - the new logo along with the standard red nose.
'The Philamonic orchestra will be performing on the night of Comic Relief and people at home will be asked to join in with their own whoopee cushions,' said Prof Cox.
"We're hoping this will help show that science isn't always boring!?
-Nova
Professor Trevor Cox, 42, has set up a special website where visitors hear six trumping noises and are asked to grade them, reports The Sun.
Prof Cox, of Salford University, Manchester, has a long running interest in whoopee cushions and until recently held the record for having the largest one in the world.
When he's not designing concert halls, he likes to spend his time studying the funnier side to sound.
He said: ?For too long, acoustic engineers have concentrated on issues such as neighbour noise and concert hall acoustics, it is about time we got to the bottom of some more important fundamental issues.
?The idea is to get people thinking about sounds. My theory - although it is unproven at this stage - is that people will laugh the most at something unexpected.
"Like with jokes - it is more funny if people don't expect the punch line. So the most unexpected noises will probably get the most votes."
Organisers at Comic Relief asked Prof Cox to come up with a sound experiment that involved the whoopee cushion - the new logo along with the standard red nose.
'The Philamonic orchestra will be performing on the night of Comic Relief and people at home will be asked to join in with their own whoopee cushions,' said Prof Cox.
"We're hoping this will help show that science isn't always boring!?
-Nova