Synopsis

Claudio Feliciani, a Swiss-Italian scientist, dedicates his research to the dynamics of crowds. He collaborated with three Japanese researchers on an investigation into the phenomenon of accidental collisions – why individuals jostle one another, particularly when engrossed in smartphone screens. Their work garnered the Ig Nobel Prize, an award celebrating research that initially elicits amusement before prompting deeper contemplation. In a conversation with Peter Barakan for *Japanophiles*, Fel