If you have unused CPU space, how 'bout putting it to good use? Folding@home is a site setup by Stanford University that lets your computer do some of the processes for them! You can read more about it on their site. Too much for me to explain, but, trust me, its a worthy cause…and it runs in the background while you are still using your computer…
They used to do a similar thing for SETI (searching for extraterrestrials) if I remember. Do they still have that? Denny?
i’ve been doing seti since i got my first home computer. they are part of the boinc network. do a search. although i have long given up belief and hope of meeting an alien, i would still like to tell my friends, “i told you so.” if/when the time comes.
i have one friend who occasionally asks if we’ve heard anything. he’s sincere.
haha!!! I had no idea! Thats pretty funny, imo…
I think trying to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease is more noble than looking for ET, though… 
not if ET knows a cure 
That is one of the most insightful replies to such a comment I’ve ever heard. WTG!