In an achievement that blends humor, creativity, and scientific brilliance, a team of Indian engineers from IIT Madras has won the 2025 Ig Nobel Prize for designing a UV-powered shoe rack that eliminates odor-causing bacteria. The award, presented annually at Harvard University, honors unconventional research that “first makes people laugh, then makes them think.”

The winning invention is a compact, affordable shoe rack equipped with ultraviolet-C (UVC) light—a form of light commonly used in medical sterilization. When shoes are placed inside, the UV system activates to destroy bacteria and microbes responsible for bad smell. Within minutes, footwear emerges cleaner, fresher, and significantly more hygienic.

According to the IIT Madras team, the idea originated from an everyday annoyance: returning home to foul-smelling shoes, especially during humid weather. By exploring how UVC breaks down bacterial DNA, they engineered a simple, household-friendly device that brings hospital-grade sanitization into daily life.

The project impressed Ig Nobel judges not only for its practicality but also for its humor—the idea of using advanced sterilization technology for smelly shoes captured the playful spirit of the awards. Yet behind the laughter lies a smart scientific approach: reducing bacterial growth can help prevent infections, control odor, and promote better hygiene in homes, hostels, gyms, and workplaces.

“At its core, this is engineering for everyone,” one team member explained. “We wanted to prove that meaningful innovation doesn’t always require complex machines—sometimes, it begins with solving small problems that affect millions.”

The UV shoe rack has sparked interest among health product manufacturers, and the team is now exploring affordable mass production. As India continues to rise in global innovation rankings, this lighthearted yet impactful invention highlights the nation’s growing ability to merge science with everyday needs in clever, accessible ways.