Folding in action

Over a million Sony PS3 users have joined Standford University's Folding@home project.

Folding@home asks console owners to donate processing power to the study of protein folding. This helps scientists explore cures for diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntingdon's, cystic fibrosis, and certain cancers.

Sony claims the one million registered PS3 owners equates to 3,000 registering daily, or two new registered users every minute worldwide, reports Next Gen.

The PS3 is not the only gaming console to take a front seat in modern medicine. Nintendo's Wii has become a physical therapy mainstay in some hospitals.