"historic new use of internet"

March 10, 2002

WASHINGTON, March 8 - Scientists using the power of more than a million home

computers, all linked together and cranking along as one, say they have come up

with thousands of possible compounds that could be developed as a cure for

anthrax.

'HISTORIC' USE OF INTERNET

"This is an historic first use of the Internet as a computing platform to

solve a critical, real-world problem with a scope and a speed that simply could

not be achieved using traditional computing methods,"

SCREEN-SAVERS FOR SCIENCE

The National Foundation for Cancer Research, a U.S. group that funds

cancer research, has had a project going since April in collaboration with

Oxford, United Devices and Intel Corp. to screen potential treatments for

leukemia.

Like the SETI@home project, which uses home computer downtime to process

radio emissions in a search for extraterrestrial life, it uses computer time

donated by personal computer users.

When a person downloads the screen-saver from the Intel Web site, the

first thing it does is connect with the Austin server and ask what this

particular personal computer can do. It gets its assignment and crunches numbers

when the computer is not in use.

Dear List Friends,

If you might be interested in helping to find cures for diseases like cancer and

aids, while still "doing nothing" and at no cost to you, please read more about

this internet linked computer project.

A briefest explanation would be:

This program basically attempts matches of known molecular disease structures

with structures of possible drug molecules.

To read the whole story and find how to sign up for other projects like these

with aids, alzeheimer's research, etc, click below. This sceensaver runs in the

background, has been running on my computer since January, and has never caused

the slightest interference with my use or any other programs, it is totally

safe. Still, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me offlist.

-Gloria

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