Foldit Players Crush Scientific Problem!

For over a decade scientists have been trying to solve a riddle. Intensive research has been underway to try to find a drug that can block certain enzymes that play a critical role in in how the AIDS virus matures and multiplies. The problem scientists were facing was that they didn’t know exactly what the enzymes looked like so they called in the gamers. GAAAAAAME OOOOOOON! Dr. Firas Khatib of the University of Washington said “We wanted to see if human intuition could succeed where automated methods had failed.”

The game that was used in helping the scientists with their problem is a game called Foldit. The game uses a person’s natural spatial ability. In the game the player can rotate 3 dimensional chains of amino acids in cyberspace. “People have spatial reasoning skills, something computers are not yet good at,” said Dr. Cooper of Washington University. Foldit also uses a program called Rosetta which encourages participants to configure graphics into a workable protein model.

The scientists were amazed at how good the modules were that the players produced through the game Foldit. They were also surprised to find out that the modules the Foldit players built actually had surfaces on the protein molecule that stood out as likely targets for drugs to de-active the enzyme. The coolest thing is that it only took the gamers 3 weeks to solve the riddle that had stumped scientists for over ten years.

After the success of the program scientist Dr. Khatib went on to say “The ingenuity of the game players is a formidable force that, if properly directed, can be used to solve a wide range of scientific problems.” Researchers also said, “The solution of the AIDS enzyme structure indicates the power of online computer games to channel human intuition and three-dimensional pattern matching skills to solve challenging scientific problems.” From what I gather, the possibilities are endless. “Games provide a framework for bringing together the strengths of computers and humans”, said Dr. Cooper. “The results of this collaboration show that gaming, science and computation can be combined to make advances that were not possible before.”

I think this discovery is totally cool. The one thing the scientists don’t attribute the discovery to is the human imagination. They say that it’s a humans spatial skills, ingenuity, and reasoning that gives us an edge over computers when it comes to these kinds of problems. I believe it’s much more than any of that. I think that the game unlocked an untapped source of imagination and creation that we all possess. Seriously, the gamers crushed the scientific problem in 3 weeks! I mean, really, what does that tell you?

After finding out about this discovery it got me thinking of all the people out there who are bound by a job. What most people don’t know is that they can put a little effort in on the side and break free of the rat race. Just think of it, no more job, no more boss, and no more trading your time for money! There are a lot of folks out there that could unleash their imaginations and get the life they’ve always wanted, but they’re afraid of getting out of their comfort zone. That’s why I think games are such a huge thing these days; people can fulfill a need without breaking free. For those people I’ll leave you with two quotes from one of my favorite speakers Jim Rohn: “Profits are better than wages; Wages make you a living but profits make you a fortune” and “Beware of the thief on the street who’s after your purse, but more importantly beware of the thief in your mind who’s after your dreams.” We all face challenges but usually ourselves are the biggest challenge.

In Prosperity

Eric & Lauren Kalberer

P.S. Leave your comments below

Comments

Jack Foley, February 5, 2011, 18:37

Wow David,

Thats such a powerful post…

I totally agree with you that if a person is not enjoying what they are doing with their life, they should quit now..

Life is too short to put ur dreams on hold..

Work towards them today..
Jack Foley´s last [type] .

Stephanie Deneke, February 5, 2011, 20:16

Living true to yourself is the highest freedom ever. I spent years living for other people’s happiness and ideas of what they wanted of me. It’s exhausting and sucks the reason for living right out of a person.

It’s so much easier to just live in truth and be free to be REAL.

I love it when someone speaks up and tells others that it’s ok to do what they want. Some people are afraid to give themselves permission to live their own lives.
Stephanie Deneke´s last [type] .

Randy Davis, February 5, 2011, 21:49

David,

One of the most powerful things about this life is that we are all different and all have different views. It is important no matter where we come from or what our core beliefs, that seek for joy in this earthly existence.

Take time to hug our kids if we have kids or hug our dog if we have one of those. But just take time to see the beauty around us and be grateful for what we have.

Randy
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Peter Day, February 5, 2011, 22:41

David…great post. I know what you mean when you say there’s nothing better than the network marketing industry. I am only 19 years old and I am fully committed to making it big in this industry and never have to work a corporate job..ever. I want to thank you for all your great content, I am soaking up everything you have to offer!

-Peter Day
Peter Day´s last [type] .

Pavel, February 6, 2011, 00:40

Thank you a lot. You changed my vision of life. I agree with you. There is nothing more stupid and wrong than doing what you kinda don’t like, hate and so on.

To the top, Pavel.

P.S. You mentioned that you want to transform the world. So what world would you like to live in?

Paul Butler, February 6, 2011, 13:55

Awesome David. Living from the heart is living in Joy. It truly is very important to live what you are passionate about. It is sad that most people live their daily routines without even questioning why. Thank you my friend for your inspiration and for living your passion and joy!!! Have a great day…Paul

Brian and Felicia White, February 6, 2011, 23:42

Wow! Such a powerful and heartfelt message here David! We are just thrilled to be able to go after our dreams without any regrets and say “forget you” to the corporate world! Never felt so much joy! Thanks for your inspiration and motivation as always!
Brian and Felicia White´s last [type]

James Patrick Allaire, February 7, 2011, 20:13

Incredible Post David, Like someone once told me, If you want your dreams to come true, don’t leave them as thoughts, take action to realize them.
James Patrick Allaire´s last [type] .

Hans Schoff, February 7, 2011, 23:58

Hey Dave, I think a lot of it has to do with control. Our whole lives we are conditioned and trained through media, school, everything to be employees or lower class or whatever you want to call it. We have been trained to be the 95%, to mind our manners, to behave, to not step out of line. I think it’s finally only becoming apparent today to more and more people this oppression that we’re under by the government, the banks, etc.

Comments

Emma Johnson, September 20, 2011, 10:45

This is absolutely incredible! It’s amazing what people can achieve when they come together. The power of gaming and human intuition is truly remarkable.

Mike Roberts, September 21, 2011, 14:30

I’ve always believed that games can be more than just entertainment. This proves that they can have real-world applications and make a significant impact. Kudos to the Foldit players!

Susan Davis, September 22, 2011, 09:15

This discovery gives me hope for the future of scientific research. Imagine what other problems could be solved with the help of the gaming community.

Lance Koman, September 23, 2011, 11:20

Wow, solving a decade-old scientific problem in three weeks is no small feat. It’s fascinating how gaming can unlock human potential in ways we never imagined.

Linda Green, September 24, 2011, 08:50

I’m inspired by this achievement. It goes to show that with the right tools and a bit of creativity, we can overcome even the toughest challenges. Well done to everyone involved!

Paul Walker, September 25, 2011, 17:40

As a gamer, this makes me proud. It’s fantastic to see the skills we develop through games being used for such a good cause. Let’s hope this is just the beginning.

Jessica Lee, September 26, 2011, 13:10

The combination of science and gaming is brilliant. It’s amazing what can be achieved when we think outside the box and utilize all available resources.

Tom Baker, September 27, 2011, 15:55

This is a groundbreaking achievement. It’s stories like these that make me excited about the future of collaborative problem-solving. Kudos to the Foldit team!

Alice Brown, September 28, 2011, 12:35

I’m blown away by this accomplishment. It’s a testament to the power of human creativity and determination. Congratulations to everyone who contributed!

Mark Wilson, September 29, 2011, 18:20

It’s incredible to see how gaming can be harnessed for scientific discovery. This could open up so many new possibilities for research and development.