What makes scientists laugh?

Doctor, doctor ...

What makes scientists laugh? Kate Ravilious finds out their favourite jokes

Thursday September 8, 2005
The Guardian


Richard Fortey is a palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum and author of a number of books including The Earth: an intimate history and Trilobite. His favourite cartoon is by the Australian Michael Leunig:
It features a dismal-looking figure proceeding along a shadowy road. A signpost reads: "The life you lead." Crossing this road at right angles is a brilliantly lit side road, the signpost for which reads: "The life you could have led."

Susan Greenfield, professor of pharmacology at Oxford University, director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, and member of the House of Lords.

Q: What is an ig?
A: It's an Eskimo's home without a loo

Steve Jones, professor of genetics at University College London and author of popular science books including Almost Like a Whale: the origin of species updated:

Well, there was this homeopath who forgot to take his medicine and died of an overdose.

Raj Persaud, consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer at the Maudsley Hospitals and Institute of Psychiatry, and presenter of All in the Mind on Radio 4:

Q: How many psychoanalysts does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: Two, one to change the lightbulb and one to hold the penis, sorry ladder... don't know why I keep making that slip ...

Steven Pinker, professor in the department of psychology at Harvard University and author of The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works and The Blank Slate, suggested this:

An old Jewish man goes for a walk and, reflecting on his fortunes in life, addresses the Almighty. "Oh Lord, all my life I have been a pious man. I have kept your commandments, gone to synagogue, kept the Sabbath, been faithful to my wife. I have not asked anything in return until now. I have just one humble request. Would it be so terrible if I won the lottery?" To his astonishment, the skies darken. The clouds split, revealing a blinding light. A voice booms out from the heavens: "I'll see what I can do."

Several months pass. The man decides to address the Almighty once again. "Oh Lord, you know I have been a pious man. I have kept your commandments, gone to synagogue, kept the Sabbath, been faithful to my wife. All I asked for is to win the lottery. And still, months after speaking with you, I have still not won it." The skies darken. The clouds split. A voice booms: "Meet me halfway. Buy a ticket."


The rest can be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/feature/story/0,,1564371,00.html

Thanks for the laugh and link.

definitely

...and laid awake at night wondering if there is a Dog.

funny

Best damned single frame funny since Charles Addams. Biologists love it because it was so spot on and funny. Larsen seemed to have a special thing for reptiles which made me love his work all the more. Hate that he put down his pen.

Man those were a riot. The best ones (Larson, Watterson) always leave us wanting more.

The first Larsen cartoon I ever saw:

an amoeba undergoing mitosis. There's just one strand left connecting the two nucleae.

Caption:

"No Janet, don't go!"