Science Vs: The Funniest Joke in the World
Radiolab
Deep Dive
Why did Wendy Zuckerman and Latif Nasser embark on a quest to find the funniest joke in the world?
Wendy was feeling sad and turned to Google for a pick-me-up, but found the jokes she found unfunny and even depressing. This inspired her to seek a better, scientifically backed joke.
What was the initial joke Wendy found on Google that made her feel worse?
The joke was about a rancher who had 97 cows in his field and rounded them up to 100.
What was the first clue given by comedian Loni Love for finding the funniest joke?
Loni suggested that the funniest joke would be something simple and universally relatable.
Why is human laughter unique according to neuroscientist Professor Sophie Scott?
Humans laugh loudly and broadcast their laughter, which is different from other animals. We also have contagious laughter, which is unique to humans.
What did Richard Wiseman's experiment reveal about the power of laughter?
His study showed that adding a laugh can make even terrible jokes seem funnier, highlighting the social and connecting role of laughter.
How did Richard Wiseman's team collect data for their experiment on the world's funniest joke?
They developed a website where people could submit their favorite jokes and rate others' jokes using a gigalometer with a 1-5 rating system.
What was the winning joke from Richard Wiseman's experiment, and why did it win?
The winning joke was about two hunters where one collapses, and the other calls emergency services, leading to a surprise twist. It won because it was the average joke that most people didn't hate.
What are some scientific theories of humor discussed in the episode?
Theories include the need for surprise or incongruity, superiority (feeling better than someone else), and tension release (laughing to relieve tension from a potentially threatening situation).
What did the study 'Wrigley, Squiffy, Lummox and Boobs: What Makes Some Words Funny?' reveal about funny words?
The study found that certain sounds like 'K' and 'oo' are funnier, as well as words ending in 'Y' and 'le'. Words with rare or unusual combinations of sounds also tend to be funnier.
What was Latif Nasser's favorite joke from the episode?
Latif's favorite was the joke his two-year-old son told him: 'Why don't you take your face?'
- Wendy Zuckerman's initial search for the world's funniest joke on Google yielded poor results.
- Comedians like Tig Notaro and Takashi Wakasugi believe comedy is subjective and difficult to quantify.
- Some comedians, like Dr. Jason Leong and Loni Love, suggest a global voting system to determine the funniest joke.
Shownotes Transcript