It all began with a simple observation, one that repeatedly captured my attention. This recurring phenomenon led me to anticipate its presence, transforming it into an inescapable pattern.

I cracked a code that had puzzled the most brilliant thinkers, writers, and performers: I uncovered the source of humor and its true purpose.

As an engineer, I wasn't the most likely candidate for such a profound revelation. Yet, my circumstances aligned perfectly. In my role as a rocket scientist, I often found myself in workshops and meetings filled with corporate engineers striving to tackle complex challenges.

The ambiance of these gatherings—sleeves rolled up, stale sweat, and brewed coffee—doesn't seem like the ideal setting to unearth the mysteries of a good joke. However, it’s often said that comedy is elusive and perhaps best discovered in unexpected places, like corporate boardrooms.

My role involves orchestrating these meetings, posing questions that frame the tasks at hand and challenging exceptionally intelligent individuals to craft inventive solutions within those confines.

However, I don't make it straightforward. That’s not how creativity flourishes.

A frequent misconception in corporate innovation is that creativity thrives on unrestrained freedom of thought. The belief is that ideas will flow freely if we create a laid-back environment with colorful bean bags and games for relaxation.

But that’s simply not the case.

When minds are given the liberty to indulge in leisurely activities, they often choose to do just that. Pose an easy question, and you’ll receive a surface-level answer—one that lacks depth and creativity. To stimulate genuine innovation, it’s essential to create a challenge that is difficult to navigate. Only then do minds begin to engage meaningfully.

Creativity thrives on challenges. It demands limitations. While necessity is often cited as the mother of invention, clear boundaries serve as its guiding father.

Writers typically develop characters to understand their backgrounds before determining how they would react to various situations. A character with unrestricted freedom of action becomes bland and uninteresting. By defining a character’s traits before unfolding the story, writers face a creative puzzle shaped by the character's distinct needs.

Framing a compelling question for a group of highly skilled engineers resembles this process. Without constraints, they’ll default to easy responses, and for bright minds, answers come far too easily. Hence, a powerful constraint—often in the form of a paradox—becomes crucial. Presenting a contradiction or an unsolvable conundrum sparks their innate problem-solving instincts.

By posing paradoxical questions, I challenge these engineers: How can something be both large and small? How can a slow object actually be fast? How can an expensive item also be perceived as cheap? The paradoxes multiply, defying conventional logic.

Naturally, confronting a world of contradictions can unsettle scientists and engineers, who typically prefer order. Paradoxes disrupt their structured reality. However, when engaged in such tasks collectively, all I need to do is listen.

Soon, the room quiets down, and a gentle hum of discussion begins. Initial attempts at rational solutions arise, employing scientific methods and technological tools. Yet, they often fall short, as one cannot solve absurdity with rational thinking. Options are explored until they are exhausted, leading inevitably to...

...laughter.

Someone, inevitably, will make a witty remark. This laughter is not a boisterous roar but a subtle acknowledgment—a knowing smirk or a quiet chuckle that signifies recognition. It’s small, but it’s meaningful.

At this point, I start to pay close attention because humor signals a departure from superficial answers. These trivial responses are devoid of creativity. However, once humor emerges, the minds in the room begin to think more laterally. The unimaginable starts to be articulated, and often, those thoughts are humorous.

The laughter that ensues when a difficult problem is tackled by creative minds is a testament to the joy of innovation. It embodies the satisfaction of resolving a complex puzzle. I've taught children how to innovate, and when engaged correctly, they can create a whirlwind of brilliant ideas.

For a long time, I couldn't grasp why innovation seemed so inherently funny, but curiosity is part of my job description. One might assume that a feeble joke holds no value, much like the absurdity that inspired it.

In corporate environments, humor is often viewed with skepticism. Cracking jokes can be perceived as unprofessional. Yet, I began to see it as a powerful tool. I encouraged humor, listening intently as each joke often concealed a nugget of truth, hinting at potential solutions—albeit absurd ones. I invited engineers to develop these jokes into viable solutions, and they turned out remarkably well.

Perhaps resolving an engineering paradox is akin to crafting a good joke. Take, for example, this humorous quip:

When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers.

I can't dissect this joke into its core elements, but I can see that its beginning contrasts sharply with its ending, creating a coherent yet absurd narrative.

Consider the craft of a skilled stand-up comedian. A well-placed observation may initially disarm the audience but later resolve in a creative and unexpected way. I often ponder the outcomes if I assembled a group of comedians to tackle an engineering challenge. What innovative solutions might they come up with?

An engaged audience attentively follows the cycle of contradiction, paradox, and inventive resolution. Why is everyone so captivated in this room?

This ability appears to be inherent. Everyone possesses a sense of humor, and perhaps an innate capability for problem-solving and innovation.

This led me to a rather foolish thought: Is humor a fundamental aspect of our problem-solving abilities?

Imagine a million years ago, a species surviving in the savanna or forest, relying on clever ideas to navigate life's challenges. For millennia, humans have faced a harsh reality where life can be abruptly ended by starvation, disease, or predators lurking in the shadows.

A creature that found joy in solving complex survival challenges would undoubtedly have a survival advantage. The greater the pleasure derived from overcoming these obstacles, the longer that creature would thrive.

And what defines a problem? A contradiction—a paradox to be addressed, manipulated, and resolved with an unexpected, creative, and ultimately enjoyable idea.

A good solution mirrors the punchline of a well-crafted joke. Perhaps as humanity's sense of humor has evolved, so too has its ability to grapple with life's paradoxes, using them to its advantage.

What about others of its kind? They might seek out those with finely honed problem-solving skills. The most astute minds capable of transforming contradictions into opportunities for survival, and, by extension, the survival of their offspring.

A sense of humor might serve as a transparent indicator of this capability, offering little room for deception. The ability to elicit genuine laughter could signal a suitable mate, much like physical traits such as strength or agility. Recognizing contradictions, manipulating paradoxes, and proposing unprecedented solutions may be the very skills that everyone seeks in a partner.

We’ve all encountered that friend who, despite not being conventionally attractive, can charm anyone into their bed with a clever quip.

This might not be a trivial trick but rather a demonstration of a sharp mind capable of unraveling the toughest challenges. A rich sense of humor could very well be a fundamental mating strategy for our species.

Agreed, it’s a rather whimsical notion.