What is your opinion of celebrity auctions? State your position, and support it with your reasoning and evidence cited from reading the article below. Celebrity accessories top the list when it comes to peculiar auction purchases. Of course, most are more solid than air. Fans went gaga when a fake fingernail worn by Lady Gaga herself made its way to auction. And a jaw-dropping chunk of change was once plunked down for a chomped-up piece of Britney Spears's chewing gum. When it comes to unusual investments, are humans just "born this way"?

According to experts, the answer is yes! "The earliest archeological records show that ownership of objects is a universal phenomenon that has existed across time, cultures, and people," Professor Kiara Timpano told the University of Miami press. And what might be considered one person's trash is often someone else's treasure. Like a tennis racket smashed up by queen of swing, Serena Williams.

So why do people collect such offbeat objects? It depends on the person. Some bidders raid their piggy banks for sentimental reasons. After all, nothing brings back feelings of childhood quite like an original pair of Dorothy's ruby slippers. Others drop great gobs of dough on items that are mostly for show. Or they may want to get hold of items that gain value over time. Like what? Like any pair of game-worn Air Jordans that adorned basketball legend Michael Jordan's famous, though sweaty, feet.

Then there's the thrill of the hunt. Scientific research suggests that finding and acquiring items believed to be of value stimulates the brain and leads to feelings of pride and satisfaction.

But shopping for strange stuff isn't always about self-fulfillment. It's sometimes about helping others. A teacup stained with Lady Gaga's lipstick, for instance, raised funds to support Japanese art students affected by a terrible tsunami and earthquake. Singer Justin Bieber once lopped off his locks for the auction block. Proceeds from the sale of his trimmed tresses went to help a pet shelter. Then there's Marvel star Scarlett Johansson. She spread some love, and possibly a cold, by putting one of her used tissues on eBay to raise money for a food bank.

From the irregular to the icky, you can find some outrageous items at auction. Who knows? If you catch your favorite celeb tossing something as common as a napkin into the trash, you might have a treasure on your hands!