Problem-Solving Prizes
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People can\\u2019t resist a prize, especially when there\\u2019s money to go with a medal, and for hundreds of years that basic human urge has been used to push humanity forward. When you focus minds and money towards a simple target, incredible things can happen - from the clock that won the Longitude prize money in the 1700s to the spacecraft that won the XPRIZE in 2004. Are there any problems that a big enough prize cannot solve?
Producer & Reporter: William Kremer
Photo Caption: Pilot Mike Melvill standing on Space Ship One, which went on to win the Ansari XPRIZE\\nPhoto Credit: Getty Images\\nThis programme uses a sound effect created by Freesound user bone666138
Correction: Since our interview with Marcus Shingles was recorded, he has stepped down as CEO of XPrize
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