We all know that science can be a little tedious at times, leaving us a bit disillusioned. That is why we rely on research such as the following, to remind us of how exciting and adventurous scientific methods can be!
On the 13th of September, the 2018 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded at Harvard University. For those of you who do not know, the Ig Nobel Prize is awarded “For achievements that first make people LAUGH, then make them THINK.” This year, the prize in the medicine category was bagged by researchers who demonstrated how roller coaster rides can aid in the passing of kidney stones.
Kidney stones are typically caused due to a lack of adequate water intake, resulting in the accumulation of minerals on the walls of the kidney. Heredity and diet also play a major role. They tend to form sharp structures that can lead to extreme pain, or in other cases pass through the urinary tract unnoticed.
The prize was awarded to two American scientists: Marc Mitchell and David Wartinger. It was an observation by one of Professor Wartinger’s patients who prompted this unusual discovery. After 3 consecutive rides on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida, the patient reported passing kidney stones each time! Similar incidents were reported by other patients who rode the same roller coaster.
Curious, the researchers decided to explore this intriguing phenomenon. To do so, they constructed a model of the insides of the kidney using silicone and used it as a surrogate to study the effects of the roller coaster ride. The model contained urine and three kidney stones of different sizes which were passed out by the patient whose kidney was used as the template to create the silicone model.
The Silicone Model
The model permitted the researchers to monitor the movement of the kidney stones after exposure to the roller coaster rides as it was transparent. It was taken on a total of 20 rollercoaster rides. The researchers observed that the stones had a passage rate of 64% when it was seated at the rear end, which is almost 4 times the passage rate when seated in front, indicating that the rear-end of the rollercoaster is most optimal for our purpose. The probability of a patient passing an average-sized kidney stone spontaneously, without treatment or alternatives such as this ride, is only 1%. Therefore, you can see how beneficial these rides can be!
Thus, roller coasters can aid in the passage of kidney stones, but it is not a concrete solution to the problem (no pun intended!). Patients who were likely to experience severe pain due to oversized kidney stones and the extreme forces of the ride were advised to not ride the rollercoaster.
Kidney stone re-formation after clinical treatment is reported to be 50% after 10 years due to small fragments that are not passed. These small fragments accumulate and grow in size over time, leading to the recurrence of symptoms. The researchers advise that a moderate intensity ride after clinical treatment could help dislodge the accumulated renal stones; a few visits to a nearby amusement park can do wonders for patients.
Kidney stones affect 10-12% of the population in industrialized nations. It is important that we are aware of the implications of this condition as it could lead to severe pain and blockage in the kidneys.
These researchers have perfectly demonstrated how fun and unorthodox science can be. Sometimes, the answers are not in the safe surroundings of our labs; instead, they are out there in the open waiting to be explored. Get out there and make your quirky discoveries!
For the students of IISER who do not have the luxury of nearby roller coaster rides, the notorious KSRTC bus rides will be just as good.
(The image was taken from the article)
