 Gamers are used to saving everything from princesses to entire galaxies. Now with the help of gamers, scientists are hoping to save real lives by finding cures for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Cystic Fibrosis. Researchers want to tap into the power of the PlayStation PS3 video game system to help find cures for many dreaded diseases.
Researchers are enlisting the aid of PlayStation 3 owners to help them understand what causes diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Cystic Fibrosis. To take part, gamers can just click on the Folding@Home icon within the PS3's menu and connect to the Stanford University program. Sony's Richard Marks says tapping into those collected processors will simulate why proteins in the human body sometimes “fold” incorrectly.
In order to study protein folding, even a super computer is not enough. We need the massive processing power of thousands of networked devices spread around the globe.” says Marks. He also states that PlayStation 3, which is about 20 times faster at folding than a standard PC, is uniquely qualified.
This project not only demonstrates the power of PS3, it also shows that these machines can be used for much more beyond gaming. You can find more information on the "Folding@Home" project, at the PlayStation website.
If you own a PSP 3, you may want to get in on this wonderful endeavor. If you have children or grandchildren who own a PSP3, encourage them to take part. It may stimulate an interest in scientific study as well as give them an awareness of how they can help improve our world.
Courtesy of Medialink
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