Screensaver discovers new star

One of the first significant applications of distributed computing I heard about (and actually participated in) was SETI@home, a project that uses the computers of volunteers to analyze radio telescope data. Another is the search for Mersenne Primes -- in 2008 the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS) found the then-largest known Mersenne Prime; a number that would stretch 30 miles if printed in 12-point type.

Here's another success of distributed computing: the discovery of a new star:

"WASHINGTON -- Astronomers announced Thursday the discovery of a new star, found with help from a most unusual source -- a screen saver.

Chris and Helen Colvin, owners of the personal computer running the screen saver are participants in a project called Einstein@home, an experiment in distributed computing that uses the donated idle time from hundreds of thousands of home computers across the globe in lieu of more expensive supercomputers." See original story at FOXNews.com