2010 Weird Science Award

Here are the winners of  msnbc.com's 2010 Weird Science Awards contest.

1. That's one small step for rabbit penises, and potentially one giant hop for restorative surgery. An experiment that gave rabbits lab-grown penises capable of fathering offspring won the most votes. Cells of penile tissue were grown on scaffolds of cartilage. When the creations took on the right shape, they were grafted onto rabbits that had their penises removed. After the transplants, the rabbits were able to breed ... like rabbits. The procedure could someday be used to heal humans as well. The photos at right show an experimenter working on the penile tissue, and an X-ray image of the restored penis.

Which Comes First: Chicken Or Egg?

It is an age-old riddle that has perplexed generations: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Now British scientists claim to have finally come up with the definitive answer: The chicken. 

The scientific and philosophical mystery was purportedly unraveled by researchers at Sheffield and Warwick universities, according to the Daily Mail newspaper. The scientists found that a protein found only in a chicken's ovaries is necessary for the formation of the egg, according to the paper Wednesday. The egg can therefore only exist if it has been created inside a chicken. The protein speeds up the development of the hard shell, which is essential in protecting the delicate yolk and fluids while the chick grows inside the egg, the report said.

Aliens Think Humans Are Disgusting?

Anyone hoping that the first spaceman to land on Earth is as friendly as ET could be in for a shock. In the latest bid to get us to cut greenhouse gases, scientists have decided that eco-conscious aliens disgusted by mankind's emissions could destroy our planet in disgust. When observed from afar, the changes in Earth's atmosphere could label us as a civilisation that has grown out of control.

ET: "Your planet is disgusting and dirty."

Anyone hoping for a friendly form of alien life landing on Earth, like ET, could be disappointed. Nasa scientists have decided that aliens looking down on our planet will be less than pleased with our greenhouse gas emissions. Aliens reaching that conclusion may then launch a pre-emptive attack to protect this perceived threat to their own way of life.

Man with 20,000 Volt Current!

Human conductor Slavisa Pajkic has scientists scratching their heads because he can withstand high voltages without feeling a thing. Known as 'Battery Man', the machinist claims he can act as an insulator, conductor and even a heater. Videos on the internet show the 54-year-old powering up a lightbulb and cooking sausages by using energy stored in his body.

Portable stove?

Chickenosaurus

Scientists have undone the progress made by evolution by altering chicken DNA to create embryos with alligator-like snouts instead of beaks. Experts changed the DNA of chicken embryos in the early stage of their development, enabling them to undo evolutionary progress and give the creatures snouts which are thought to have been lost in the cretaceous period millions of years ago. The scientific revelation of 'rewinding' evolution could pave the way for scientists altering DNA in the other direction and use the same process to create species better able to adapt to Earth's climate.

"Harry Potter's" Time-Freezing Binoculars Go On Sale

Harry Potter fans who watched enviously as the schoolboy wizard wielded magical time-freezing  binoculars will soon be able to buy their own super spyglasses.  For designers at Sony have invented binoculars that allow users to pause, rewind and play back whatever they are viewing. The digital devices – reminiscent of the ‘Omnioculars’ used by Potter to watch his favourite sport of Quidditch – could revolutionise birdwatching, horse racing, cricket and even opera.

Sun Pillar Illusion

What is that on the horizon? No, it's not an alien starship battling distant Earthlings, but rather a sun pillar. When driving across Ontario, Canada in early June, the photographer was surprised to encounter such an "eerie and beautiful" vista, and immediately took pictures. When the atmosphere is cold, ice sometimes forms flat six-sided crystals as it falls from high-level clouds. Air resistance then causes these crystals to lie nearly flat much of the time as they flutter to the ground. If viewed toward a rising or setting Sun, these flat crystals will reflect sunlight and create an unusual column of light -- a sun pillar as seen above. Such columns of light are not uncommon to see, and a retrospective of past APODs that have featured picturesque sun pillars can be found here.