Solve Puzzles for Science while Playing a Game : Foldit!

Foldit is a new computer game that allows individuals to contribute to protein folding research. Think of it as similar to grid processing approaches like the protein folding project (folding@home) or the search for extraterrestrial life forms (SETI@home). However, rather than using millions of computers to try every possible solution/location, this new approach takes advantage of a human’s innate problem solving abilities to narrow down the possible protein configurations which often elminates much of the time required for a computer-generated solution.

The object of Foldit is in its name. Essentially, players use their computers to fold proteins, and the more chemically stable the folded protein becomes, the more points the player achieves. Initially players were challenged to solve 40 protein puzzles of which the folding solutions were already known. Many players with no scientific training were able to find the correct structure faster than computer programs designed for this task. Now players are given proteins for which the optimal folding is not known. Essentially they will then be doing cutting-edge research in protein-structure prediction - although they may not know it. The designers then intend to use what they have learned about human strategies to train computers to do their job more efficiently.

We’re collecting data to find out if humans’ pattern-recognition and puzzle-solving abilities make them more efficient than existing computer programs at pattern-folding tasks. If this turns out to be true, we can then teach human strategies to computers and fold proteins faster than ever!

That is a pretty ambitious goal if true.

To get started yourself you’ll need to download either the Mac or Windows version. Oh, there is even a Linux version for all of Sam’s Ubuntu geeks out there. I played around with the game a bit, starting with the tutorial followed by the the first challenge puzzle: folding a protein from a bacteria known to cause strep throat.

Overall, Foldit is surprisingly fun, not Wii Fit fun, but I’ve definitely found a new way to procrastinate. I’d say you don’t necessarily need to know much about protein folding to play the game, but you will certainly learn more about proteins as you play the game. The game does make clear how elegant and complex the dance of protein folding is.

According to one press release, the high score could earn the winner a Nobel Prize for medicine. I wouldn’t quit my day job if I were you though.