Project Discovery scientists on EVE Online players’ contributions

EVE Online recently launched Phase Four of Project Discovery, its citizen science initiative which engages its players in data and research. To date, players have contributed hundreds of years’ worth of research data by helping with the project, the previous phases of which have included COVID-19 research. The current phase pits gamers against cancer — or more specifically, allows them to contribute to cancer research.

Project Discovery’s four phases have each involved research about (respectively) proteins in human cells, exoplanet discovery, COVID-19 research and now cancer research. Players who access the Project Discovery are given data to analyze in the form of a minigame that rewards them with in-game currency and items. The data, as the researchers note, requires human brainpower to solve — gamers aren’t doing the work of a machine.