Final answer:
Scientists used a remote-control device to collect whale snot in a non-invasive method for studying whales, replacing older, harmful practices that contributed to the decline in whale populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientists perfected a method to collect whale snot using a remote-control device in the 20th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize. This unconventional research method was designed as a non-invasive way to study whales and obtain important biological samples. In the history of whaling, sperm whales were heavily sought after for their oil, which was used in a variety of products.
Today, the protection of whale species is crucial, as their numbers were rapidly diminishing, leading to international protection established in 1988. The innovative approach to study whales without harming them represents a significant progress in marine biodiversity conservation and scientific research techniques.