Basically, about 250,000 people that realize that life doesn't last forever, have joined a medical research effort to find cures for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and many other diseases.
Since we are not smart enough do not have time to code our own JMOL molecular dynamics and coordinate with others around the world, F@H stands in.
By downloading a small program here:
into its own directory you can run the program, enter your FReepname and our team number 36120 and away you go, folding proteins faster than you can by hand.
At first not much happens. Then you get your first points, the next work unit finished, then you compete with others that also just started, and soon you have converted every other computer in the house, at work and at strangers' homes into a folding empire with your FReep name.
It really becomes fun, and I find myself checking stats every three hours. One day when results are published that help find a treatment for Alzheimer's or other diseases, then I may not have to say that long goodbye as my father did.
Does this make any sense?