Lend a hand while you sleep

Remember a few years ago when there were a number of projects utilizing the unused processing power of thousands of computers from around the world to conduct research or analyze huge amounts of data?

Maybe I've been in a cave, but I haven't heard much about them for a while, until I located this project, the World Community Grid, a few days ago.

Every time you leave your computer on while you aren't using it (whether you step away for lunch or leave it on at night), it has unused processing capacity that could be utilized for good. Not hackers using malware to hijack your computer to send spam, but organizations doing research like analyzing DNA and other processing-heavy assignments. Supercomputers are expensive and projects like this are low-cost alternatives for researchers on a tight budget. When you start using your computer again, the software load is reduced so you can get back to doing what you do.

You know it's for real because I saw it featured on CNNMoney.com.

Lend a hand, and who knows what breakthrough projects you could be a part of.