Can a Computer Find Cures for Cancer? World Community Grid a non-profit organization claims that with computers linked together across the world, scientists will have the technological edge that they need to find cures for cancer.

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The technology is called grid computing and also referred to as distributed computing. The idea goes back to SETI: the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelegence. This project sends wave data from outer space to volunteer computers across to be analyzed because people do not have the time or money to do it by themselves. The computers are sent what are called work units. These work units take data and by the use of an algorithm, which is a step by step mathematical process that achieves something, data is processes and then sent back to a server to be analyzed in the "big picture" of scientific results.

The World Community Grid is more concerned with biological sciences. Scientists are trying to find cures for cancer, map out the human genome, understand how proteins "fold", and even design new effective drugs. Distributive computing is a great what to make work and science more efficient. Mathimaticians used computers to find equations that matched data in the past. Today's experiments require more computing power than in the past.

Anyone can help donate their unused computer time and it is completely free and secure. The World Community Grid as well as other projects are funded by the Nation Science Foundation. If you are interested in donating your unused computer time, you can visit http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org. There are many other projects that are being worked on at the moment. Projects from finding prime numbers to designing new alternatives to energy. The World Community Grid also features a project that aims at designing new solar technology that will me more efficient and effective in converting light to electricity. To see more projects that are being worked on by various universities across the globe visit http://distributedcomputing.info/projects.html.

Most of us who have a Playstation 3 have heard of folding@home a project that attempts to find out how proteins work. This is also a popular project started at Stanford University.
http://folding.stanford.edu/

In order to attach to most of these projects you need a computer program called BOINC. Just download BOINC and attach to the projects that it offers. You can do this by going to tools >> attach to project in the menu bar of BOINC.

How can I help find cures for cancer?

What are scientists doing about cancer?

What is grid computing?