I don't know how any SANE human being could sleep through the noise of an air compressor, but I can see how a polynapper could do it. ;-) I've found that it's easier to wake up to visual or touch stimuli than it is to wake up to sounds. With sounds, the brain seems to adjust to them eventually, no matter how loud... but it's unlikely (albeit possible, I guess) to "adjust" to having ice water poured on your face!

I don't have any ideas for your Polynappers of the Future Fund, but someday when I'm out of college and actually have money, I'll be glad to contribute. ;-) Good luck!

One way to spend the money would be to buy a EGG (from http://www.pocket-neurobics.com/ for example).

That would allow to provide exact information about the sleep phases during polynapps.
If the "Polynappers of the Future" could provide those information, one could perhaps get some professional scientist to make a study about Polynapping.

It would also help us to understand some things about polyphasic sleep better like the roll of REM sleep.

If you don't get Claudio Stampi to make test on you, you could still to test on you yourself.

The main problem for the "Polyphasic-Livestyl" is at the moment the lack of information. So money would be spend best to increase the informations. In addition it would be important to center our data somewhere, that it will be found by someone looking for information about polyphasic sleep.

With sounds, the brain seems to adjust to them eventually, no matter how loud…
^
This is true, I had a period where I had to sleep from 6-7AM to 1-2PM while my downstairs neighbors were reforming their house using really fucking LOUD drilling machines, while the whole floor&walls were moving. First nights were difficult but eventually didn't even hear it.

When I woke up this morning my girlfriend asked me, ‘Did you sleep well?'
I said, 'No, I made a few mistakes.'
 
Bender.PUA