In an effort to spur big science discoveries, the U.S. government and private groups have started offering cash prizes. Some examples: $25 million Name: Virgin Earth Challenge Goal: A system that can remove greenhouse gases from the air for 10 years or more and that is eco-friendly. From: Al Gore and Richard Branson $10 million Name: NewOrgan Prize Goal: To use regenerative medicine to grow a new organ and to transplant that organ into a patient and have it function for at least two years by 2020. From: Methuselah Foundation $2 million Name: DARPA Urban Challenge Goal: Develop and drive fully autonomous vehicles in a long-distance competition. (It was awarded in 2007.) From: Department of Defense $1.5 million Name: Sample Return Robot Challenge Goal: Build a rough-terrain robot capable of finding and retrieving geologic samples. From: NASA and Worcester Polytechnic Institute $1.35 million Name: Green Flight Challenge Goal: Build an aircraft that can fly 200 miles on a gallon of gasoline per passenger. (It was awarded in 2011.) From: NASA, CAFE Foundation and Google $1 million Name: PETA prize Goal: Develop a way to grow and manufacture in vitro chicken meat that tastes just like real chicken. From: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals COMMENT AT ScientificAmerican.com/may2012
$25 million Name: Virgin Earth Challenge Goal: A system that can remove greenhouse gases from the air for 10 years or more and that is eco-friendly. From: Al Gore and Richard Branson
$10 million Name: NewOrgan Prize Goal: To use regenerative medicine to grow a new organ and to transplant that organ into a patient and have it function for at least two years by 2020. From: Methuselah Foundation
$2 million Name: DARPA Urban Challenge Goal: Develop and drive fully autonomous vehicles in a long-distance competition. (It was awarded in 2007.) From: Department of Defense
$1.5 million Name: Sample Return Robot Challenge Goal: Build a rough-terrain robot capable of finding and retrieving geologic samples. From: NASA and Worcester Polytechnic Institute
$1.35 million Name: Green Flight Challenge Goal: Build an aircraft that can fly 200 miles on a gallon of gasoline per passenger. (It was awarded in 2011.) From: NASA, CAFE Foundation and Google
$1 million Name: PETA prize Goal: Develop a way to grow and manufacture in vitro chicken meat that tastes just like real chicken. From: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
COMMENT AT ScientificAmerican.com/may2012
