In 2004, British physiotherapist Chris McDonnell conducted extensive research on banana peels in various states of decay to determine whether they are as hazardous as conventional wisdom suggests. He concluded that banana peels are not very dangerous after all and that the image of people slipping on them belongs to slapstick movies and comic books.

Some time later McDonnell visited a supermarket -- and stepped on a discarded banana peel. "I lost my footing like a novice skater," he recalled, "and fell on the pavement. My shock and embarrassment turned to delight when I saw the yellow culprit..."