Projects (e.g., SETI@home)

Projects like SETI@home leverage the combined processing power of volunteers' personal computers worldwide to analyze large datasets, such as searching for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. Instead of relying on expensive supercomputers, participants install software that uses their computer's idle time to process tiny pieces of data concurrently. This distributed approach makes complex scientific research more affordable and faster, enabling scientists to tackle big challenges collaboratively. Essentially, it turns everyday devices into part of a global research network, amplifying computational capacity without the need for centralized infrastructure.