Latest in an irregular series, some of whose previous entries were Edge.org and the Girl Scouts...
I examine the Folding@home distributed computing project with reference to the costs (electricity resulting in air pollution causing deaths) and benefits (some papers): http://www.gwern.net/Charity is not about helping. Additional data on either side of the cost-benefit is welcome.
(I also recently split out my essay describing things I have changed my mind on.)
See http://www.gwern.net/Nootropics#nicotine
I haven't been doing anything systematically with it because I'm still getting a handle on dosage and effects - it is, unfortunately, not as powerful as modafinil or Adderall, so it can be hard for me to get a lock on how long it lasts, how to administer, etc to the point where I could try rotation or double-blinds.
WARNING. Nicotine is not a drug you want to be fucking around with. Treat the stuff with the same respect that you would treat cocaine or heroin.
One thing you should be aware of, if you aren't already, is that, in users that haven't already developed tolerance, the effects of nicotine last a long time. Even though the nicotine itself leaves the body within twelve hours, it can take as long as a week for rebound/withdrawal symptoms (including cravings) to set in.