Science of the bleedin' obvious

News headlines are usually dominated by science that makes us think about how we live, about our fragile world and our humble place in the universe.

But there are many projects that pass unnoticed, when they deserve a mention because they reassure us that science does not hold all the answers: we can work out plenty of things for ourselves without the help of mathematics, fancy experiments or expensive equipment.

Here is the latest crop of the self evident and glaringly obvious, courtesy of Null Hypothesis, the Journal of Unlikely Science - www.null-hypothesis.co.uk.

Consumers prefer apples that aren't bruised
Tired and over worked people make bad drivers

Consumers prefer apples that aren't bruised

When it comes to buying fresh fruit, consumers are very fussy about the outward appearance. In fact, a recent consumer study by Minnesota University showed that given a choice between apples with bruises and those that are perfectly shiny, shoppers are strangely drawn to the ones that look good enough to eat.

Consumers had a very low tolerance for blemished produce and it was the key in consumer buying decisions. Despite an increased trend in demand for organic food production, given a choice, unblemished apples win every time, regardless of the method of production.

Organically produced apples are more prone to blemishes and the authors of the report suggest that controlling weeds and insects could be a key factor in reducing the proportion of sub-standard fruit overall.

In a master class in sales, the authors also suggest that the use of promotional techniques, such as including recipe cards with the produce, could help sales.

Presumably, the rationale being a picture of Grandma's traditional apple pie will distract you from the proliferation of maggot holes staring up at you from the supermarket shelf.

Tired and over worked people make bad drivers

People who work extended hours without sleep and who struggle to stay awake at work, are more likely to experience a drowsy driving episode.

So says a shinning report on sleep behaviour in nurses published in the latest issue of the journal 'Sleep'.

The likelihood of an accident was tripled when nurses experienced episodes of drowsiness at work; the risk of driving disaster also increased when nurses reported that they had been falling asleep on duty.

Drowsy driving is considered by many to be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. Indeed, nine out of ten police officers claim to have stopped individuals suspected of drink driving, only to find that they were simply tired.

In somewhat of a damning statement, the recent report claimed, "Without mitigation, fatigued nurses will continue to put the public and themselves at risk." And the seminal piece of advice to prevent drowsy driving - get more sleep.