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As self-proclaimed Diet Coke addicts, we were pretty excited about the winner of this year's Ig Nobel prize (for achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think"). According to the research that won the award, our favorite cola is also a pretty effective sperm killer. It's not strong enough to work as actual birth control (repeat: It does not work as birth control), but we're still quite proud to see it recognized by the scientific community.

The news got us thinking -- besides spermicide, no cavities and caffeine highs, what else might Diet Coke be good for? Here's our list so far:

Cooking
Baste a ham in Diet Coke for an incredibly tender piece of meat, or make a yummy barbecue sauce by mixing it with an equal amount of ketchup. Also, try replacing the water, eggs and oil called for by your favorite cake mix with a can of Diet Coke -- it's supposedly super-tasty and low in calories. (Let us know how that goes.)

Cleaning
When you're out of regular household cleaner, go for the Diet Coke. It works on chrome (pour it on, then rinse off with soap and water), burned saucepans (boil it in them), toilets (pour it in), kettles (let it soak all day) and anything else with nasty buildup.

Starting your car
If your engine won't turn over, try pouring Diet Coke on the battery terminals -- the acid in the cola will eat away at the corrosion and might actually help get your engine going.

Tell us: Have you tried any of these alternate uses for Diet Coke? Got any others that have worked for you?

To see the latest in surprising health news, click here or on the photo below.

Health News

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    Oct. 2, 2008. PETA seizes on a recent spate of tainted milk across Asia, employing an activist in a Santa suit to hand out free soy milk to children in Manila.

    Jay Directo, Getty Images

    Oct. 2, 2008The EPA grants Texas governor Rick Perry an extra nine years to meet federal health standards, which it currently cannot meet due to severe smog.

    David J. Phillip, AP

    Oct. 1, 2008. California begins enforcing a state law that compels fast food companies to display nutritional content on wrappers.

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    Sept. 28, 2008 Chinese supermarkets push powdered milk after massive batch of tainted formula put over 53,000 children in the hospital.

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    Sept. 28, 2008President Bush honors health professionals-- including Dr. Roscoe Brady, at left, a developer of enzyme replacement treatments-- with the US National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

    Saul Loeb, Getty Images

    Sept. 15In Manchester, England, UK chain department store Sainsbury's introduces in-store dental facilities in an effort to make care more widely available.

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    July 29, 2008 The Jamaica Bay Riding Academy provides animal-based therapy to veterans suffering from PTSD.

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    July 18, 2008A Starbucks in New York City complies with a new municipal mandate for chain restaurants to display nutrition information in a place of prominence.

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