Study the folding patterns of protein molecules can microbiologists better understand cellular processes as well as some diseases, such as alzheimer’s, that are caused by proteins that have misfolded. the folding of these complicated molecules can be simulated on computers, but it takes a lot of processor power and time for even expensive supercomputers to do this.

a group of researchers at stanford university developed software that can be used to distribute the processing of data to anyone who is willing to donate time on their idle personal computers. as a result, the researchers

the work is not scientific because the data are not processed in one location.
the work is not scientific because the simulations are not reproducible.
the researchers applied creativity to solve a problem in running an experiment.
the researchers used only well-established scientific techniques.

There is no reason to suspect that their method is not scientific -they only manipulated on which computer it will be calculated, not the method of calculation (the simulation and its premises).

Also, the question says that the researchers developed a new method to treat a problem that is facing research, therefore likely they didn't use established methods, but rather employed creativity.

So the answer is: The researchers applied creativity to solve a problem in running an experiment.

d. i assume the underlined word is "role." reformat if it isn't.

explanation:

role is closest to part because when replacing words, "playing a vital decision," "playing a vital activity," and "playing a vital dollar" don't make logical sense. the only meaningful choice is "playing a vital part."

this fits one of merriam-webster's definitions of role: "a function or part performed especially in a particular operation or process."