Can I just point out that the BMJ's Christmas issue always includes 'humourous' pieces of research:

In 2011:

"Is 27 really a dangerous age for famous musicians? Retrospective cohort study"

http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d7799

or

"Orthopaedic surgeons: as strong as an ox and almost twice as clever? Multicentre prospective comparative study"

http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d7506