Next generation supercomputing....greatly underfunded by US government

[francolettieri]

The scientific discoveries that supercomputers make possible are amazing. Everything from lifesaving drug discoveries to environmental/ green energy technology. The more computing power we have, the better. So when I heard that Obama has set aside 126 million in the budget for next generation exascale computer development, it sounded great, at first. Then I realized, with all the life changing scientific benefits that come as a result of supercomputers, 126 million seems like a ridiculously low amount of funding. 10 billion, or even 100 billion dollars of funding per year seems far more appropriate.

As of right now, that fastest supercomputer is in China and is 2.5 peta flips. The US hopes to reach exascale computing speed (1,000 petaflops) by the year 2018, or 2019 using IBM's new light driven computer processors. (Article Below)


http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-03/how-it-works-light-driven-computer

[Chisox08]

1. If it doesn't blow shit up it doesn't get fully funded by our government

[Tesha]

5. Actually, many (most?) of the US supercomuters were built for the purpose...

...of "blowing shit up". They were built for our nuclear
weapons labs so they could better-simulate nuclear
weapons detonations. We did this to stay within the
letter (if not the spirit) of the nuclear test ban treaties.

Tesha

[P. Galore]

2. Really sad. But look at all the complaints about building a supercollider. Idiots don't 'get' why

this stuff is important.

A balanced budget or 'getting the government off our backs' is more important.

[aquart]

3. Bush destroyed the San Diego Super Computer Center.

Gave all the grant money to Texas, I heard.

[panzerfaust]

4. Its OK. That town in California - China I think it is called? - is still investing.

[Wilms]

6. It's in Western California.

Barack Obama: White House technology '30 years behind'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x655991

[francolettieri]

7. I would think investing in computing power/technology would get significant financial/economic retur