UK supercomputer gets upgrade

The supercomputer used by UK academics to tackle some of the thorniest scientific challenges has had its capacity doubled.

The third and final phase of the UK National Academic Supercomputer - dubbed HPCx - has been formally accepted into service by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

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When originally commissioned in 2002, the system was rated as one of the top 10 largest supercomputers in the world. But despite a doubling of capacity in 2004, it currently resides at number 59 in the list.

Now the capability of HPCx, which uses IBM technology, has been doubled again, so it is now packing more than 2,500 processors.

EPSRC CEO, professor John O'Reilly, said HPCx can be "justifiably proud" of the service it has provided to the academic community.

The supercomputer has allowed UK researchers to examine scientific problems in ways previously unavailable to them.

For example, researchers at the University of Bristol modelled the aerodynamics of helicopter rotor blades using the machine, creating rotor wake simulations essential for both the design of civil and military helicopters.

Scientists from University College London used the computer to develop an understanding of the transport of biomolecules such as DNA, RNA and polypeptides across protein membrane channels in biological cells.

Recently the UK's Met Office called for more supercomputing power to tackle global warming calculations.