Four years ago, Borderlands 3 players were given the opportunity to do some science and have fun at the same time. Through a block-shifting puzzle mini-game, players could help scientists map and compare microbes, doing the work that even supercomputers struggled with. Developed in conjunction with McGill University, Massively Multiplayer Online Science, and The Microsetta Initiative, a study based on the data gathered from that game has been published and revealed that 4.5 million players took part. If you were one of them, this makes you a scientific contributor.
Published earlier this month in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature, the research focused on the microbial ecosystem within the human body: a complex field of study, as each person has trillions of these diverse microbes within their body. Scientists have been researching microbes for decades, examining them to see how they influence our bodies and how they change according to our diet, exercise, and several other factors.
“Here we have 4.5 million people who contributed to science,” said the paper’s senior author Jerome Waldispuhl (via IGN). “In a sense, this result is theirs too and they should feel proud about it.”
Canada McGill University’s Attila Szantner came up with the idea to approach gamers to help with the research, and together with Gearbox, players were able to remove computer errors and format valuable DNA data during their sessions of Borderlands Science.
In total, 135 million puzzles were solved and scientists gained access to more accurate data in their research, and the information will be used to research microbes related to how we age and many diseases–including inflammatory bowel disease and Alzheimer’s–that these organisms are involved in. The player-driven data will also be used by scientists to develop improved AI programs to help analyze cells, and in recognition of their efforts, “Borderlands Science players” and Gearbox Entertainment employees are listed among the authors of this new paper.
In other Borderlands news, Take-Two has acquired Gearbox from Embracer and has announced that “active development” has begun on the next Borderlands title. A sequel Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands sequel is reportedly in the works as well, and in August, the live-action Borderlands movie will hit the big screen.
