Modern-Day Longitude Prize: And the Winners Are ...

We had a wonderful turnout for our first 1book140 contest, in which we asked readers to nominate, then vote, on what a 2012 equivalent to a "Longitude Prize" should be. We easily chose a shortlist of ten imaginative ideas. Interestingly, when it came to voting, the crowd spoke loud and clear, awarding over one-third of its votes to the search for Free, Sustainable Energy. The full list is below. Winners will receive special editions of Dava Sobel's Longitude (the 1book140 selection for this month) and her latest book, A More Perfect Heaven: How Coperniucs Revolutionized the Cosmos.

1) Find a Source of Free, Sustainable Energy, submitted by Gill Corden.

2) Why do Honey Bee Colonies Collapse? submitted by Kyle Behymer.

3) Perfect Nuclear Fusion, submitted by Brad Chamberlin.

4) Secure Global Access to Clean Water, submitted by Jill Hubley

5) Create a System of Public Financing for Politicians, by, um, me.

For what it's worth, I'm disqualifying myself and sending my prize on to David Eccles, whose idea for Curing Malaria came in just behind mine in the voting.

Congratulations winners, and thanks everyone for donating their brain power and great ideas.

(Winners, email me here with your contact information so we can send you your prize.)