Contributing computer power to COVID-19

[helvella]

Do you remember, years ago, the SETI project which asked you to run programs on your computers searching for extra-terrestrial life?

That has currently stopped analysing because they need to look where they have reached.

However, another major computer-based search is on. This analyses how proteins fold - hopefully reflecting the real-world biology.

The current target is analysis targeted at coronavirus. Here is a story from The Register (a computer website which discusses all sorts of things):

PC owners borg into the most powerful computer the world has ever known – all in the search for coronavirus cure

Move over, Summit. Distributed computing project hits 470 PFLOPS

By Richard Currie 24 Mar 2020 at 13:35

theregister.co.uk/2020/03/2...

And this follow-up shows the enormous computer power that is being applied:

Reg readers have not one, but TWO teams in Folding@home top 1,000 as virus-bothering network hits 2.4 exa-FLOPS

Distributed computing project sails past anticipated raw power of El Capitan – and you folks are at the forefront

By Richard Currie 14 Apr 2020 at 12:15

theregister.co.uk/2020/04/1...

If you are interested, visit this site:

foldingathome.org/

You don't need a superfast machine - mine is mid-range business. You might notice that the fans whir rather more due to the work it is doing. Other than that, I don't notice it. My computer is currently doing this (whatever it actually means):

Project 16425

This project simulates the NSP7 co-factor in the monomeric state from SARS-CoV-2! To replicate itself, the virus uses "polymerase" proteins that transcribe the viral genome after it infects a host cell (aka our cells). The known polymerase of the viruses utilizes 3 proteins, NSP7 and NSP8, and NSP12. This project simulates NSP7 in isolation. Our hope is to identify a potentially druggable site in this polymerase for drug design efforts. This project is related to p16424, p16431, and p16432.

[humanbean]

I first heard about Folding@home in about 2005 or 2006. I was surprised to hear it was still going on 15 years later. Then I looked it up in wikipedia and discovered it started in 2000.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foldi...

[Hidden]

Is there a catch somewhere? I'm very wary of allowing strangers access to my computer, even for a good cause.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

The stories on The Register seem pretty strong evidence, to me, that all is above board. The people who contribute to that site know as much about computing as anyone, anywhere.