World Community Grid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
World Community Grid

Developer(s)	United Devices IBM Krembil Research Institute
Initial release	November 16, 2004 (2004-11-16)
Stable release	7.16.19
Development status	Active
Operating system	• Microsoft Windows • Linux • macOS • Android • Raspberry Pi OS
Platform	BOINC
Type	Volunteer computing
Average performance	402 TFLOPS
Active users	23,248
Total users	79,354
Active hosts	57,672
Total hosts	5,517,865

The World Community Grid (WCG) is a special project that uses the unused power of computers around the world. It creates a huge volunteer computing platform to help with important scientific research. This research aims to benefit all of humanity.

WCG started on November 16, 2004. It uses the spare processing power from devices like PCs, laptops, and Android phones. This power helps analyze data for many research groups. WCG projects have studied topics like the human genome, HIV, cancer, influenza, Ebola, Zika virus, COVID-19, and even ways to get clean energy and water purification.

Currently, there are five active projects and 26 projects that have finished. Many of these projects have published their findings in scientific papers. For example, one project found a compound that can reduce the Zika virus. Another project found new ways to fight HIV. In September 2021, IBM gave ownership of World Community Grid to the Krembil Research Institute in Toronto, Ontario.

How World Community Grid Helps Science

World Community Grid is like a giant team effort where many computers work together. It uses a special kind of computing called volunteer computing. This means people volunteer their computer's spare time to help solve big science problems.

The History of WCG

In 2003, IBM and other researchers started the Smallpox Research Grid Project. This project aimed to find a cure for smallpox faster. They used a huge network of computers to test how well 35 million possible drug molecules worked against smallpox. In just three days, they got 100,000 results. By the end, they found 44 strong candidates for smallpox treatments.

Because the smallpox project was so successful, IBM created World Community Grid on November 16, 2004. Their goal was to create a way for other important research to use this powerful computing method. WCG first worked only on Windows computers. Later, it added support for Linux and macOS.

In September 2021, IBM announced that it was giving World Community Grid to the Krembil Research Institute. This change helps make sure WCG can keep helping science for a long time.

How Many Computers Help?

As of January 8, 2023, World Community Grid had over 23,000 active user accounts. More than 57,000 devices were actively helping. Since the project started, computers have donated over 2,000,000 years of computing time. They have finished over 6 billion tasks!

How World Community Grid Works

The World Community Grid software runs in the background. It shows up as a small icon in your computer's system tray. If you use the BOINC client, the icon is yellow and blue.

The World Community Grid software uses the time your computer isn't busy. It performs research calculations when your device is connected to the Internet. Users install the WCG software on their computers or phones. This software works quietly in the background. It uses your device's extra power to process small pieces of work, called workunits.

When a workunit is finished, your device sends the results back to WCG over the Internet. Then, it downloads a new workunit. To make sure the results are correct, WCG sends multiple copies of each workunit to different computers. When all the results come back, they are checked against each other.

You can choose which humanitarian projects your computer helps with. By default, you are included in several projects. But you can always choose to opt out of any project you don't want to support.

This picture shows the status window of the WCG software. It displays information about the work being done in the background. This computer is almost finished with its current task. When it reaches 100%, it will send the results back to WCG and start a new task.

Keeping Your Computer Safe

The World Community Grid software uses your computer's CPU when it's not busy. It's designed not to slow down your computer. Modern CPUs can speed up when they are busy, which uses more power and creates more heat.

However, the WCG software uses special limits to prevent problems. It can pause calculations if your computer doesn't have enough free resources. Unlike some other projects, World Community Grid sets these limits carefully. This makes the chance of your computer getting damaged very small. For example, the default CPU limit is 60%. This means it might work at 100% for a few seconds, then pause for a few seconds, averaging out to less use.

There are also programs, like TThrottle for Windows, that can help. They measure your CPU or GPU temperature and adjust how much the WCG project uses your computer. This helps prevent overheating.

Tracking Your Contributions

Your contributions to World Community Grid are recorded. You can see statistics about how much you've helped. Because different computers have different speeds and tasks vary, contributions are measured in points. Points are given for each workunit based on how much effort it took to process.

When your computer finishes a workunit, it suggests how many points it should get. Since many computers work on the same task, WCG servers check all the points claimed. They ignore any strange results and average the rest. Then, that average number of points is given to each computer that completed the task.

You can also join teams with other users. Teams can be created by groups or individuals. Being part of a team can make you feel more connected. It can also create friendly competition, which helps get even more work done for the grid!

Sharing Discoveries

World Community Grid works with companies and groups that help promote WCG. These are called partners. As of April 2021, WCG had 452 partners.

One of the most important things WCG does is share its findings. All the results from computations on World Community Grid are made public. This means scientists everywhere can use the information. This helps speed up new discoveries and treatments for everyone.

Important Scientific Discoveries

Since it started, World Community Grid has helped with over thirty projects. Here are some of the amazing things they've found:

• The Help Fight Childhood Cancer project found 7 compounds in February 2014. These compounds can destroy neuroblastoma cancer cells without bad side effects. This is a big step towards new treatments for children's cancer.
• The GO Fight Against Malaria project found several molecules that work against Malaria and drug-resistant Tuberculosis. They also tested molecules against MRSA and Bubonic Plague.
• The Discovering Dengue Drugs - Together project found new ways to stop the Dengue virus from growing. They found a drug lead that also works against other viruses like West Nile virus. It showed no bad side effects, making it a strong candidate for an antiviral drug.
• In June 2013, the Clean Energy Project created a huge database of over 2.3 million organic molecules. They found 35,000 molecules that could double the efficiency of current organic solar cells. This is a big step for solar energy.
• The FightAIDS@Home project found two compounds in February 2010. These compounds could lead to a new type of AIDS-fighting drug. They attach to the virus in new places, which could help existing treatments work better.
• In July 2015, the Drug Search for Leishmaniasis project tested 10 promising compounds. Four of them showed good results in lab tests. One compound was especially promising.
• The Computing for Clean Water project helped discover a new type of water filter using tiny tubes called graphene nanotubes. These tubes can purify water by letting water molecules through but blocking larger germs.
• In March 2019, FightAIDS@Home researchers found a new weak spot in the HIV-1 virus. They used WCG to test over 1.6 million compounds to target this spot. This could lead to new antiviral drugs.

Current Projects You Can Join

World Community Grid has several active projects that need your computer's help:

OpenPandemics - COVID-19

Launched on May 14, 2020, this project helps find possible treatments for COVID-19. WCG works with Scripps Research on this. The project also aims to create a fast tool for scientists to find treatments for future pandemics.

Mapping Cancer Markers

This project started on November 8, 2013. It looks for special signs, or "markers," linked to different types of cancer. Researchers compare millions of data points from healthy and cancerous tissues. They hope to find patterns for lung, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, and breast cancers. This could help doctors choose the best treatments.

Help Stop TB

Launched in March 2016, this project fights tuberculosis (TB). TB is caused by a bacterium that is becoming resistant to current medicines. The project studies molecules in the bacterium's protective coat. This helps scientists understand how to fight the bacteria better.

Smash Childhood Cancer

This project started in January 2017. It builds on the work of the Help Fight Childhood Cancer project. It looks for drug candidates to fight even more types of childhood cancers.

Africa Rainfall Project

Launched in October 2019, this project uses WCG's computing power to improve rainfall models. Better rainfall models can help farmers in Africa grow their crops more successfully.

Finished Projects

Many projects have finished their computing work on World Community Grid. Here are a few examples:

Human Proteome Folding – Phase 1 and 2

The first project on WCG was Human Proteome Folding Project (HPF1), which finished in July 2006. It aimed to predict the shapes of human proteins. Understanding protein shapes can help find cures for diseases. HPF2, which finished in 2013, continued this work, focusing on proteins related to malaria and other areas.

Help Defeat Cancer

This project, finished in April 2007, aimed to help doctors choose the best treatments for breast, head, or neck cancer patients. It looked for visual patterns in tissue samples to link them to treatment success.

Discovering Dengue Drugs – Together – Phase 1 and 2

These projects, finished in 2009 and later, searched for drugs to fight Dengue, Hepatitis C, West Nile, and Yellow Fever viruses.

Help Conquer Cancer

This project, finished in May 2013, helped improve X-ray crystallography for proteins. This helps researchers understand how cancer starts, grows, and how to treat it. This project was one of the first WCG projects to use graphics processing units (GPUs), which made it finish much faster.

Nutritious Rice for the World

Finished in April 2010, this project predicted the shapes of proteins in different types of rice. This helps farmers breed better rice that has higher crop yields and is more resistant to diseases. This can help people around the world who suffer from malnutrition.

The Clean Energy Project

This project, with phases finished in 2009 and later, aimed to find new materials for the next generation of solar cells and energy storage devices. It used computer calculations to predict the properties of molecules that could become new solar cell materials.

Influenza Antiviral Drug Search

Finished in October 2009, this project searched for new drugs to stop the spread of influenza infections. It focused on drug-resistant strains and new strains of the flu.

Help Cure Muscular Dystrophy – Phase 1 and 2

These projects, finished in 2007 and 2012, studied how proteins interact. They focused on proteins involved in neuromuscular diseases like muscular dystrophy. The information gathered helps researchers design molecules for better treatments.

Computing for Clean Water

Finished in April 2014, this project helped understand how water flows efficiently through new filter materials. This research can guide the development of low-cost and more efficient water filters.

Drug Search for Leishmaniasis

This project, finished in 2018, aimed to find possible treatments for Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by parasites.

GO Fight Against Malaria Project

Finished in 2015, this project looked for drug candidates to fight drug-resistant forms of malaria.

Say No to Schistosoma

Finished in 2015, this project searched for effective treatments for schistosomiasis, a disease caused by parasitic worms.

Computing for Sustainable Water

Finished in October 2012, this project studied how human activity affects water resources. It aimed to find ways to restore and keep water resources healthy.

Uncovering Genome Mysteries

Finished in 2014, this project compared millions of genes from different life forms to find out what their functions are. The results could help in medicine and environmental research.

Outsmart Ebola Together

Finished in December 2018, this project worked with the Scripps Research Institute to find chemical compounds to fight Ebola virus disease.

OpenZika

Finished in December 2019, this project aimed to find an anti-Zika drug by targeting proteins the Zika virus uses to survive.

FightAIDS@Home

This was WCG's second project, started in November 2005. It tested how well potential drug molecules could stop HIV.

FightAIDS@Home Phase 2

Started in September 2015, this project looked more closely at the results from Phase 1 to improve drug discovery techniques for HIV.

Microbiome Immunity Project

Started in August 2017, this project studies proteins in the bacteria that live in and on the human body, known as the human microbiome. Understanding these bacteria can help us learn about our health.

Images for kids

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  A screenshot showing the OpenPandemics - COVID-19 project.

See also

• BOINC
• Folding@home
• List of volunteer computing projects
• World community