And a drug that manages to makes it into human trials has a mere 8% chance of being approved by the FDA. Contra Gladwell, however, recent history shows that talent, intelligence, and analytical prowess are just as important, if not more so, in the development of successful new medicines.

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According to the National Weather Service, your chance of being hit by lightning this year is a mere 1 in 1 million.

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If this were backed up by vaccinating a mere 10% of the wolves in the three connected meadows, the chance of extinction would drop to less than one in 1, 000.

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