Projects exist for aggregating personal computers into one large project for various worthy purposes, from space to biology research, some nanotech-related such a protein folding. Now IBM has a similar project with the goal of developing nanotechnologies for clean water. From Grist.org:
In China, Tsinghua University researchers, with the help of Australian and Swiss scientists, will use 1.5 million computers on the Worldwide Community Grid to develop nanotechnology to create drinkable water from polluted sources, as well as from saltwater.
To do that, the scientists need to run millions of computer simulations as part of their “Computing for Clean Water” project.
“They believe they can collapse tens or even hundreds of years of trial and error into mere months,” Ari Fishkind, an IBM spokesperson, told me.
Big Blue is providing computer hardware, software, and technical help to the Worldwide Community Grid.
This will give us practice in group computing on behalf of nanotech-related projects, which we’ll need for future molecular nanotech project and also nanotech safety systems eventually. H/T Meridian —Chris Peterson
