Covid-19: Crowdsourced virtual supercomputer revs up virus research

A file photo taken in Bruyeres-le-Chatel shows part of the new ATOS of GENCI French supercomputer Joliot-Curie (‘supercalculteur’ in French). The project led by computational biologists has effectively created the world's most powerful supercomputer that can handle trillions of calculations needed to understand the structure of the virus. — AFP

WASHINGTON: Gamers, bitcoin “miners” and companies large and small have teamed up for an unprecedented data-crunching effort that aims to harness idle computing power to accelerate research for a coronavirus treatment.

The project led by computational biologists has effectively created the world's most powerful supercomputer that can handle trillions of calculations needed to understand the structure of the virus.