September 27, 2024: Foldit Is Citizen Science, Gamified

My parents were always fond of telling me that video games were a waste of time. While they might have been right on some level – I've dedicated an embarrassing number of hours to Baldur's Gate 3 – I don't think they can really make that argument for Foldit. The object of this online video game is to figure out how certain protein structures are folded together to maintain stability. What sets this free game apart is that the results don't just lead to a high score – they help scientists create new proteins for use in vaccines, environmental remediation, and more.

 

Foldit is a great example of citizen science – that is, scientific research conducted by members of the public. You don't need to have a scientific background to play this online game, though a knack for spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, and puzzle games may help. (I struggle with these skill sets, which is why I mostly stick with iNaturalist.) If you decide to try your hand at Foldit, you'll join a group of people who have helped researchers make numerous discoveries in fields ranging from viral research to synthetic chemistry. Not bad for a video game, huh?

Permalink • Archive • Illuminated Site of the Week