How Different Are Apples And Oranges, Really?

We've all heard the idiom "like comparing apples and oranges," which is typically used to compare incomparable objects. We don't know how long this phrase has been used, but most people would probably agree that it is a fair and neutral comparison given how different apples and oranges are in terms of flavor, color, texture, and other factors.

But one James E. Barone, a surgeon at the University of New England, felt that it was all insufficient. He conducted study and prepared a comprehensive thesis on the subject, coming to the conclusion that apples and oranges are actually pretty similar to one another after spending hours meticulously analyzing features like sweetness, weight, form, etc. of several types of oranges and apples.