Folding @ Home

Folding @ Home is a distributed computing thingy. It uses your spare CPU cycles to simulate what's called protein folding. Here's a definition:

Protein folding is the process by which a protein assumes its functional shape or conformation. All protein molecules are simple unbranched chains of amino acids, but it is by coiling into a specific three-dimensional shape that they are able to perform their biological function.

Folding @ Home simulates this process, and subsequently allows scientists to better understand diseases such as Mad Cow disease and Alzheimer's. Check it out.
You simply download the program for your operating system (there's one for the 3 major OS': Windows, Mac, Linux) and install it. Once you run it, it simply runs in the background. I usually kill it when I enter a game but I always leave it on if I'm not using the computer/using it for basic surfing and the like.
So, try it out. It's for a good cause. :)

p.s. I've also put a link to the website at the top of my website links list on the right side of the main page for the blog.

No Surprises by Radiohead from the album:
OK Computer
4 Stars