IBM Supercomputer Hits Record Speed

An IBM Blue Gene/L computer has achieved a new world record in computer performance. A system owned by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) recorded sustained performance of 207.3 teraflops, a record for floating-performance. Performance is much improved from last year, when the system was capable of less than 100 teraflops.

The application requiring such performance is called Qbox, which determines how atoms would react in a nuclear explosion. It is used to ensure that the country's nuclear weapons stockpile stays safe, secure, and reliable, the NNSA said. IBM added that Thursday's news was also a important advancement in the field of "predictive science," which uses supercomputers to predict complex future events.