Scientists baffled for a decade? Can't figure something out?
Let the gamers at it.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/18/online-gamers-crack-aids-enzyme-puzzle/
Now that's a good thing to read about :)
It makes total sense, and is totally awesome.
I downloaded that this morning, haven't had a chance to look at it yet, though
Any other links to this? I knew foldit had potential when I first heard about it, and that results were starting to trickle out of it but this is fantastic.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/09/18/computer-gamers-solve-problem-in-aids-research-that-puzzled-scientists-for-years/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NotRocketScience+%28Not+Exactly+Rocket+Science%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
http://fold.it/portal/
I adore the concept of using the combined resources of human brains as a sort of superorganism.
Foldit is a perfect example of distributed problem solving by amateurs. I've been waiting for this to happen since it was first launched.
I didn't even know this was going on until I read it on Yahoo this morning. That's what I call teamwork!
I saw "crack" "AIDS" and "Dungeons and Dragons", and immediately assumed I was reading an article about epidemics of the 1980's.
I'm glad to see video games being used for something other than helping people wait patiently for death.