Walking

among the rows of
supercomputer cabinets in Argonne National Laboratory’s Leadership Computing Facility, located about 25 miles from Chicago, is kind of like wandering through a high-tech version of “The Shining’s” Overlook Maze — minus the axe-wielding madman.

The two primary supercomputers in that steel labyrinth, named Mira and Theta, comprise 101 cabinets the size of standard refrigerators that contain stacks of racks and weigh between 3,450 and 4,390 lbs. each. Their combined total: 160 tons — much of that heft due to water-cooling systems that prevent overheating. Along with several other smaller systems, the machines are housed in a 25,000-square-foot data center with low ceilings and a white tile floor. With all of that equipment whirring away, it is not a quiet place. Nearest the computers, visitors must speak-shout in order to be heard above a constant loud hum.

TOP 10 FASTEST SUPERCOMPUTERS IN THE WORLD-

Summit | U.S.
Sierra | U.S.
Sunway TaihuLight | China
Tianhe-2A | China
Piz Daint | Switzerland
Trinity | U.S.
ABCI | Japan
SuperMUC-NG | Germany
Titan | U.S.
Sequoia | U.S.

WHAT ARE SUPERCOMPUTERS USED FOR?
JUST SIMULATING REALITY, THAT'S ALL??

Supercomputers are basically used by corporations and government organizations to simulate outcomes. These blazing fast computers can be used for everything from finding new oil repositories to developing new life-saving medicines. In fact, supercomputers all over the world are being used to assist in research and development of a vaccine for COVID-19.