GRAND CANYON, ARIZ.—Summer storms pass through the Grand Canyon in Arizona. This photo is part of a series that showcases the summer adventures of Tech staff members.

Elephants march down Massachusetts Ave. Thursday morning on their way to the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston where they are to perfom in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus.

Brian Wansink describes his study where he fed subjects with a constantly refilling bowl of soup. Wansink won this year’s Ig Nobel in Nutrition for studying the effects of visual cues on the amount of food eaten.

Professional Indexer Glenda Browne answers questions at the Ig Informal Lectures in 10-250 on Saturday, Oct. 6. Browne won this year’s Ig Nobel in Literature for her study of the word “the” and the ways it causes problems for anyone trying to put things in alphabetical order.

Ig Nobel Prize recipient Dan Meyer of Antioch, Tenn. swallows a sword in front of hundreds at the Ig Informal Lectures in 10-250 on Saturday, Oct. 6. Meyer is a professional sword swallower who co-authored a paper, “Sword swallowing and its side effects,” which won this year’s Ig Nobel in Medicine. See page 12 for more photos.

Ig Nobel laureate Kees Moeliker tells stories of famous dead birds at the Ig Informal Lectures in 10-250 on Saturday, Oct. 6. Moeliker won the 2003 Ig Nobel in Medicine for documenting the first scientifically recorded case of homosexual necrophilia in the mallard duck.

Guard Kimberly E. Soo Hoo ’08 takes the ball down the court against Jill Walsh of Babson College on Senior Night last Wednesday, the final home game of her career. The Engineers jumped out to a large lead early and held on in the final few minutes to win 52-49.

Ekavali Mishra ’10 prepares to pass to fellow teammates during a penalty corner play against Gordon College on Thursday on the Barry Astroturf Field. The Engineers ultimately won 6-3 over the Fighting Scots.

Associate Director of Admissions Matthew L. McGann ’00 spoke with The Tech about his time at MIT and his role in the admissions process.

Brendon Edwards rolls molten glass that will become the body of a pumpkin over a metal plate called a marver.