A medical mystery in AIDS research that has baffled scientists for years was recently solved - by gamers.

People all over the world playing the online game Foldit have collectively used the protein-folding simulation to unravel the mystery of how a viral protease enzyme is shaped. The solution was discovered in just three weeks. Gamers might say they owned it like a noob.

Computers may be much faster and accurate at all things mathematical, but it seems we humans still have an advantage over hardware when it comes to spatial orientation conundrums.

This breakthrough may be very useful for fighting viruses that use the enzyme, and similar viruses such as HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

If you are interested in playing the Foldit puzzle game and maybe making the next big scientific discovery, you might check out their Facebook page.

For more information about the achievement, check out ars technica or MTB europe.

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