Melanie's challenge proposal had me scratching my head for a few moments, initially thinking that it was indeed possible, after all she is an engineer and doesn't appear to joke much. Because, when someone sets such a low "wager" (only $10 in this case) - it's normally well within reach. In other words it's something that's actually possible, the low wager is chosen based on high risk analysis, the person placing the bet is in fear that there's a good chance that someone might actually win it. So to minimize their loss, in the well foreseen event that someone wins, a low wager is set in place.

If a much higher wager was on offer, I wouldn't have spared a seconds thought. Instead using most of what I know about LEDs to very quickly dismiss it as impossible (or at least for me) I personally feel that the only way you'll get that reversed biased LED to switch on is with additional circuitry, i.e: charge pump (DC to DC converter) to raise the anode ~1.8V above cathode (assuming it's a red LED or around 2V if it's green)

Trent Jackson