A recent survey examining the use of humor in more than 500 science conference presentations over two years found that most attempts at levity failed. Two-thirds of jokes received either polite chuckles or no reaction, while only 9% hit their mark.

The study's findings suggest that scientists face similar challenges to comedians: getting a laugh is tough, especially when the audience hasn't been warmed up. Even SNL acknowledges its initial segment as 'cold open'—the hardest laughs come first.

Interestingly, some talks avoided humor altogether, which can make for a long but safe presentation. However, the study notes that these humor-free sessions are less memorable, making it hard to keep the audience engaged and awake.

The biggest laughs typically came from technical difficulties like slides malfunctioning or mics cutting out. These mishaps provided a natural release of tension, bringing the audience together in shared amusement.

According to one physician-scientist speaking to Nature, despite the wealth of interesting content at conferences, staying engaged can be challenging without some form of humor to break up the routine.