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It was a busy year—the genomes of some celebrities were sequenced, vaccine clinical trials were halted and, at long last, embryonic stem cells from primates were created.
By designing a new generation of prosthetic limbs that rely on electronic sensing, Hugh Herr has proven that he can put good ideas into motion. But he aims to go beyond simply restoring lost limb function.
Funding is tight. Grants are rejected. Research equipment is too expensive. And these are complaints heard in well-heeled laboratories in the US and UK. In the following pages, we present inspiring examples of scientists who, using materials as simple as litmus paper, bamboo and blenders, prove that science on a shoestring is possible—and sometimes even better than the alternative.