los alamos

11.22.09

Fastest Supercomputer in the World Models Dark Matter, HIV Family Tree Simultaneously

Petaflop power in action

By Stuart Fox Posted 10.27.2009 at 4:31 pm 20 Comments

In November of last year, scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory switched on Roadrunner, the world's fastest computer. IBM and the Department of Energy built the machine to model nuclear explosions, but two new studies, both released today, are proof that the computer's massive power has been at least as devoted to peaceful science as to simulating thermonuclear weapons.

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Nuclear Olympics

As the Summer nears, reports surface of multiple security sweeps for radioactive material at Olympic sites

By Brett Zarda Posted 03.06.2008 at 12:20 pm 2 Comments

According to the Canadian Press, Chinese and American officials are working in cahoots to remove radioactive material from Olympic sites in advance of the games this summer in Beijing. The work is the latest hurdle the Chinese must overcome with the world watching closely. From pollution to human rights, press coverage to date has been less about the sport and more about the host.

American experts from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have taken at least two trips to China hoping to eliminate any material that could be used as a dirty bomb.

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