EVE Online players complete 47 million tasks to help scientists understand Covid-19

Dimapur, Nov. 9 (EMN): In what can only be described as an unprecedented moment in gaming history, more than 171,000 EVE Online players completed 47 million tasks to help researchers understand the coronavirus.

According to a report by the BBC, the 47 million mini-game tasks done by EVE Online players is equivalent to 36 years of categorising cells.

EVE Online is a space-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed and published by CCP Games. Back in June, scientists from Mcgill University’s School of Computer Science announced the return of Project Discovery in EVE Online. ‘Project Discovery’ is a mini-game project by EVE Online where players can help scientists collect data by playing mini-games in exchange for in-game rewards. The project had previously helped scientists to study how human cells are built and to identify exoplanets, but this time around, players can help researchers understand Covid-19.

According to a blog post on the EVE Online website, “The pilots of EVE Online now have the opportunity to help in analysing Covid-19 data to help scientists’ understanding of its impact on our immune systems. By playing Project Discovery, they will directly contribute to science. Players will achieve higher ranks through their efforts as well as receiving unique in-game rewards.”

“At present, we face a viral threat unlike any seen before, a novel coronavirus that seems to spread more rapidly than most while also causing a range of symptoms in its victims, making it difficult to combat. Through the use of the newly-developed flow cytometry simulators, you will aim to contribute to decoding this debilitating pathogen. The newest iteration of Project Discovery allows you to analyse data produced by flow cytometers. Using a tracing tool, you will draw polygons around clusters of cells. In doing so, you will participate in analyzing Covid-19 data, as well as other related flow cytometry charts, which will help scientists understand better how our immune systems are impacted by this novel coronavirus,” EVE Online explained on its webpage.

The mini-game is quite simple: draw polygons around cell clusters. By identifying these cell clusters, players can help scientists gather data on how Covid-19 affects different populations and types of cells.

If you would like to participate, you can find more information on EVE Online’s webpage dedicated to Project Discovery.