] Two losing games, when alternated in a periodic or random
] fashion, can produce a winning game. This paradox occurs
] in a family of stochastic processes: if one combines two
] or more dynamics where a given quantity decreases, the
] result can be a dynamic system where this quantity
] increases. The paradox could be applied to a number of
] stochastic systems and has drawn the attention of
] researchers from different areas. In this paper we show
] how the phenomenon can be used to design Brownian or
] molecular motors, i.e., thermal engines that operate by
] rectifying fluctuations. We briefly review the literature
] on Brownian motors, pointing out that a new
] thermodynamics of Brownian motors will be fundamental to
] the understanding of most processes of energy
] transduction in molecular biology.

Translated from the original spanish, this arxiv article is a wonderful catchup on Parrondo's paradox (http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ParrondosParadox.html). In the end the author's show it is possible to construct Brownian (or molecular) motor.

Gambling for free energy is cool.

[cond-mat/0309053] Paradoxical games and Brownian thermal engines