"Borderlands 3 Gamers Aid Breakthrough Microbiome Research"

Over 4.5 million players of the video game Borderlands 3 have contributed to microbiome research by playing a mini-game called Borderlands Science, where they helped align genetic sequences of bacteria. By matching colored tiles, players effectively assisted in decoding genetic material, leading to the solving of over 135 million puzzles and significantly improving the alignment of microbial DNA sequences. This collective effort has provided valuable insights into the human microbiome and its relation to human health, showcasing the potential for integrating scientific research into popular video games.