Would a university study any and every ridiculous notion out there like "the five second rule"?

Would it have any time left to do legitimate research if it “studies” such notions? Did someone play a practical joke on the university/the education system/science/medical field?
https://tinyurl.com/yxzwvzth (Google, Rutgers University, “the five second rule” By the way the date on top is today’s, not the date of the article, which is September 8, 2016