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Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference, like donating your broadband connection and unused computer down time. Below are the top five ways to donate that unused computer time to a good cause.

Basically these programs function as your screen saver, and when it comes on, they crunch numbers for different research projects being conducted by scientists around the world.

1. 

   This site uses your computer processing power to analyze information on the genetic code of the parasite commonly known as malaria.

2. 

   While your computer is not being used, this program runs in the
   background as your screen saver, analyzing data regarding the
   3-dimensional shapes of proteins. Basically it uses your computers
   processing power to do things that they can’t (usually because they don’t have enough computers to analyze all the data). This information
   can one day be used to find cures for diseases like malaria or HIV.

3. 

   Do you sit up at night wondering if there is action taking place somewhere in a galaxy far, far away? Well now is your chance to get in on the action of finding it. SETI @ home uses your computer during its down time to analyze radio telescope data. Basically, if ET is sending us his latest blog, you could help find it.

4. 

   This program, like the others, functions as a screen saver in the background when your not using your computer. I quote this directly from there home page “Einstein@Home is a program that uses your computer’s idle time to search for spinning neutron stars (also called pulsars) using data from the LIGO and GEO gravitational wave detectors.”

   As you can guess, the data received from these devices is enormous. Without the support of people, just like you, we would be decades behind in this research.

5. 

   This program is the crown jewel in the eyes of network based super computing. There mission is to create the largest community based grid of computers that can crunch data on a variety of medical based subject.

From helping cure cancer (as if you haven’t heard this for the last 20 years), to combating viral infections that have puzzled scientists for years. There are six total projects being run on the world community grid at the moment. They involve AIDS, climate change in Africa, viral infections, human protein folding, muscular dystrophy research, and understanding how current cancer treatments work on the body. This one ranks first because it isn’t limited to one project. Your computer could be helping fight AIDS on day, and cancer the next.