Even if no signs of life are found in the lake, that could inform science's understanding of the limits by which life is bound.

MSN: Mission to drill into buried Antarctic lake hits a snag

His latest gambit is closer to home but equally bold: turning a run-down Seattle neighborhood called South Lake Union into a center for biotech and life- science research.

FORBES: Seattle or Bust

Home to the University of Nevada, which places more emphasis on science than on basketball, and situated a mere 45 minutes by car from lovely Lake Tahoe (the same by plane from San Francisco), affordable Reno is well positioned for a run of good luck.

FORBES: Magazine Article