Foldit

What is Foldit?

Foldit is an innovative video game that invites players to collaborate in solving complex problems related to protein folding. Developed through a partnership between the University of Washington's Computer Science, Engineering, and Biochemistry departments, the game leverages the collective intelligence and creativity of its players to advance scientific understanding

Highlights

• Collaborative problem-solving
• Players work together to model the optimal three-dimensional structures of proteins, contributing to ongoing scientific research
• Gamification of scientific challenges
• Foldit transforms the intricate process of protein folding into an engaging and intuitive gameplay experience
• Citizen science approach
• By participating in the game, players contribute to real-world scientific breakthroughs, even without specialized knowledge
• Eventual open-source release
• The developers plan to share the game's source code for non-profit purposes, allowing the project to evolve and expand beyond its initial beta release.