Now you can help fight cancer
simply by playing video games
from the comfort of your own
home. Researchers at Stanford
University have teamed up with
Sony Computer Entertainment
America, the makers of
PlayStation, on the
'Folding@Home' project.
Folding@Home helps researchers
study the folding, and more
important, misfolding o
more

Now you can help fight cancer
simply by playing video games
from the comfort of your own
home. Researchers at Stanford
University have teamed up with
Sony Computer Entertainment
America, the makers of
PlayStation, on the
'Folding@Home' project.
Folding@Home helps researchers
study the folding, and more
important, misfolding of human
proteins, which can lead to
understanding the cause and
cure of diseases like cancer,
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and
cystic fibrosis.

In order to study protein
folding, researchers need more
than just one super computer,
but the massive processing
power of thousands of
networked computers.
Previously, PCs have been the
only option for scientists
studying this, but now, they
have a new, more powerful
toolâ??PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3).
The PS3's cell processor is
about 20 times faster at
folding than a standard PC,
giving even greater results in
real time, allowing scientists
to not only see but navigate
the molecule in 3D.

To take part voluntarily,
gamers just need to click on
the Folding@Home icon within
the main menu of the PS3. Then
whenever their game system is
idle, it will automatically
begin the real-time
simulations and the PS3's
graphic chip actually allows
you to watch the process first
hand. You can even manipulate
and study the protein strand
yourself.

Category Gadgets & Games

Tags technology, new, playstation, cancer, parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cystic, fibrosis