Answer:
Impower definition
The definition of impower is an obsolete spelling of empower, which is defined as to give someone the confidence, power or ability to do something. An example of impower is when you give your secretary the ability to hire or fire people. verb.
A simile can be found when using "like" or "as" between two things. Example: I'm as happy as a clown.
Your question would be a metaphor. Both things are being compared to a science expieriment, probably meaning that they need to have an outcome, but it isn't known for sure if it will be a good or bad outcome.
Things like this can be taken many ways, so if you think something else, I'm sure it would work as well.