Today is April Fools' Day—the prankster's favorite day of the year.

Boese said he has never been much of a prankster; his family didn't participate in April Fools' Day pranks at all. But as a science historian and recognized "hoaxpert" (hoax expert), the more he's studied humorous pranks and hoaxes, the more he enjoys it. (See "April Fools' Day: Nature's Wildest Masters of Deception.")

In recent years, Boese has noticed that the number of pranks done in the home and at the office seems to have decreased in the United States.

"A hundred years ago, most people played pranks at home, on the street, or in the office. It was considered a nuisance holiday. Today we lack the street culture to encourage