A bioengineer gets schooled by Escherichia coli.

The ability to learn from situations and to predict certain outcomes sets us apart from many living things. It prevents many of us from chasing balls into busy streets or placing bottles of ethanol near Bunsen burners. Still, it didn't stop thousands of US researchers submitting applications for the National Institutes of Health's Challenge Grants — funded by President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package — despite an expected success rate little better than one or two per cent.

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