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Each computer solves its portion of the problem. Then, results are sent back to a main server. This is called distributed computing.
Typically, distributed computing programs work as a screen saver. So they run when the computer is idle. To join a distributed computing project, you download a program. The program connects to a server to receive tasks and return data.
Distributed computing projects don’t require particularly powerful computers. If yours was purchased in the past three or four years, it will probably work. You do need an Internet connection. But speed isn’t important; many projects work with dial-up.
Here are a few popular projects to get you started.
Folding@home
Folding@home is run by the Pande Group at Stanford’s Chemistry Department. Its goal is to understand why proteins misfold. Protein misfolding can lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer and Mad Cow.
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