Talk:Annals of Improbable Research

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Untitled[edit]

Why was the information about the AIR website removed/reverted? (28 Nov. 2005).

It's still there. But I did mistakenly remove the link to the blog, which I have returned - shame on me, it's a great daily dose of humor. Links to directories that list the site are unnecessary, though. - DavidWBrooks 19:08, 28 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

In this case, one of AIR's claims to fame is that it's the most popular science/humor site on the net - directory links notwithstanding. That paragraph was also removed. Some mention should probably also be made of mini-AIR, the e-newsletter.

How to Build an Atom Bomb[edit]

The fake information on how to build a nuclear weapon was in JIR, not AIR. Google the phrase "the device basically works". 204.97.106.125 22:41, 7 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Based on a helpdesk request by User:StarryEye, I've had a look into the paragraph:

AIR received attention from American military intelligence when a copy of one of their articles was found among other papers in an abandoned terrorist headquarters in the Middle East. The article was a highly unrealistic and farcical explanation of how to build a nuclear weapon that some unwitting Al Qaida member had filed away. Nonetheless the discovery prompted a short-lived official investigation of AIR.

Both of the references referred to the Journal of Irreproducible Results. One, the Village Voice ref, mentions "It's a reprint of a scientific parody called "How to Build an Atom Bomb," from the geek-humor newsletter Annals of Improbable Research, originally known as the Journal of Irreproducible Results.". So that one covers both JIR and AIR. However, if I understand things correctly, AIR is not JIR. Thus the Village Voice mistaken there. Anyway, I've looked up some other refs (NYT, The Scotsman, and others) and all blamed the article on JIR. Given that, and given my love for overly long explanations, I've moved the paragraph. :) - Bilby (talk) 02:54, 21 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

improb.com[edit]

The website now doesn't look at all like the archived 2009 site; it's full of what look like sponsored product advertorial. MrDemeanour (talk) 15:51, 17 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

You mean improbable.com? It's not advertorial; it's full of articles from the magazine and a few relates things like Marc's co-authored book on Bark Beetles. - DavidWBrooks (talk) 18:57, 17 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry - I see you were looking at "improb.com". That's not the website linked in the article. - DavidWBrooks (talk) 18:58, 17 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Under References, reference #3 links to improb.com, with the link-title "Improbable Research". MrDemeanour (talk) 15:15, 19 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

It links to an archived page back when improb.com was still good; it doesn't link to the website itself. I have updated the website in the infobox- DavidWBrooks (talk) 16:35, 19 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]