A team of Japanese researchers recently won the satirical lg Nobel Prize for a study that showed painting cows with zebra-like white stripes significantly protects them against biting flies. The lg Nobel Prize is a satirical award designed to “honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think.” But while it might be mistaken for a silly parody, receiving an lg Nobel Prize does require genuine scientific work. The researchers observed a reduction in biting flies by as much as 50 percent on the animals given white stripes compared to those given black stripes or not painted at all. Biting flies are some of the most damaging pests to cattle, heavily impacting grazing and feeding, and causing significant stress. Luckily, a few painted stripes could help lower dependency on chemical insecticides.