Five years folding as of 12/20/17!

2017 ended up as an interesting year, with Foldit Central launching several new types of puzzles in the second half, including the Aflatoxin Challenge. After four long rounds of aflatoxin puzzles, we're waiting to see whether any progress has been made in breaking down aflatoxin.

The aflatoxin series and the other new types of puzzles had some interesting features. On the biochemistry front, we learned that aflatoxin uses epoxy to attach itself to DNA. On the recipe front, we learned that ligands can have rotamers, just like the sidechains of a protein. (Check out the Foldit wiki for "ligand", "rotamer", and other fun stuff.)

My foldi-versary and the approach of the new year means it's time to update my stats!

According to my spreadsheet, in five years, I've played 738 puzzles for global points as a soloist, 603 as an evolver. (That doesn't count test puzzles, or puzzles that were closed early due to bugs, both of which award zero points.)

I've had 60 first-place finishes as soloist, 40 seconds, and 48 thirds. As an evolver 49 firsts, 78 seconds, and 44 thirds.