Researchers are turning the Sony PlayStation 3 console and other gaming hardware into low-cost supercomputers. They're using the hardware to model drug molecules and black holes, the weekly New Scientist says.
The PS3 console uses a Cell chip made by IBM, Sony and Toshiba. It can run on the Linux operating system.
The chip is prized by chemists and physicists because they can use it for their work. The calculations needed to make graphics for games are similar to those used to simulate reactions between particles.
PHOTO: AP
University of Massachusetts astrophysicist Gaurav Khanna has strung together 16 PS consoles. He uses them to simulate gravity waves that occur when two black holes collide, the British magazine says.
By using the C programming language to run the chip, University of Illinois chemist Todd Martinez found he could run calculations 130 times faster than on an ordinary PC.
His is now calculating the energy of the electrons in 1,000 atoms, which add up to the size of a small protein.
"We can now do the things we were killing ourselves to do," Martinez told New Scientist.
Another scientific tool taken from the world of gaming is the Wii hand-held remote control. It contains a gadget that can sense which direction it is being moved.
Surgeons have been using Wii to improve their operating techniques. Neurologists have turned to it to measure movement problems in patients who have had a stroke or have Parkinson's disease.(AFP)
《新科學週刊》指出，研究員正在著手將新力的PlayStation 3 和其他電玩主機改造成成本較低廉的超級電腦，他們利用這些機體來模擬藥物分子和黑洞的反應。
PS3主機的處理器採用了IBM、新力和東芝合力研發的Cell晶片，它能執行Linux作業系統。
該處理器被化學家和物理學家視為瑰寶，因為它能夠支援他們的運算系統；處理遊戲畫面所需的運算效能和模擬粒子間反應的計算相當類似。
該英國雜誌指出，麻州大學的天體物理學家高瑞．卡納串聯了十六台PS主機，模擬兩個黑洞撞擊時會產生的重力波。
伊利諾伊州立大學的化學教授陶德．馬丁尼茲發現，在此處理器上以C程式語言執行運算，比他用一台普通電腦要快了一百三十倍。
他現在能計算出一個小型蛋白質大小的一千個原子中的電子能量。
馬丁尼茲對《新科學週刊》說：「我們現在能做到我們以前必須拼了命才能完成的事。」
Wii的遙控手把是另一項被運用在科學界的電玩器具，這支手把能感應操縱者遙控的方向。
外科醫生已將Wii的技術應用在改良手術技巧上；神經科醫師也求助於這項技術來測量中風或帕金森式症患者的行動問題。(法新社�翻譯：袁星塵）
A: After attending Taiwanese baseball superstar Chen Wei-yin’s retirement ceremony in Japan, why didn’t you stay longer for some fun? B: Don’t you remember? We’re going to Blackpink member Jisoo’s fan meeting at Messe Taoyuan this Sunday. A: Oh, that’s right. She’s the second Blackpink member visiting Taiwan as a solo artist after Lisa. B: Jisoo just released her EP “Amortage” on Valentine’s Day. A: Blackpink will also release new songs and launch a world tour this summer. A: 你去日本參加台灣強投陳偉殷的引退儀式後，怎麼沒留下來玩幾天？ B: 你忘啦？我們週日還要去「桃園會展中心」參加Blackpink成員Jisoo的見面會。 A: 啊對耶，她是繼Lisa後第二位單飛訪台的Blackpink成員。 B: Jisoo不久前才在情人節，推出個人迷你專輯《Amortage》。 A: Blackpink今年夏天也會推出新歌，還會啟動世界巡演呢！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
Imagine standing in a lush forest, surrounded by the songs of birds and the rustling of leaves, with the earthy scent of soil and trees filling the air. This is the essence of forest bathing, a natural experience that brings peace to both body and mind. Originating from the Japanese term “shinrin-yoku,” forest bathing is a simple yet healing activity. It requires no special equipment or skills, just a willingness to disconnect from the digital world and embrace nature. The key is to use all of your senses to fully engage with the forest: feeling the warmth of sunlight on your
A: Taiwan’s baseball superstar Chen Wei-yin announced his retirement, and I’m still in shock. B: Didn’t you fly to Japan last Sunday just to attend his retirement ceremony? A: Yeah, it was held by Chen’s former Japanese team, the Chunichi Dragons. I even cried at the event. B: His glorious record of 96 wins in Japanese and US professional baseball altogether is unprecedented. A: His total income of NT$3.3 billion, including a huge 2016 contract of US$80 million with the US Miami Marlins, is also unprecedented. A: 台灣棒球巨星陳偉殷宣布引退，真是令人震驚。 B: 你週日不是特別飛去日本，參加他的引退儀式嗎？ A: 對啊老東家「中日龍」為他舉行了儀式，我還感動到大哭。 B: 他創下日／美職棒總計96勝紀錄，真是史無前例。 A: 而他生涯總收入高達33億台幣，包括在2016年時，和「馬林魚」簽下8千萬美元巨約，更是無人能及！ （By Eddy
In another application of artificial intelligence, a team of archaeologists from the Nazca Institute at the University of Yamagata in Japan, in collaboration with IBM Research, have discovered 303 new geoglyphs in the “Nazca” region of Peru. Though these figures are not nearly as large as their Nazca Lines counterparts, their discovery has helped enhance the understanding of the transition from the Paracas culture to the Nazca culture. The AI model, assisted by low-flying drones, was able to accomplish what the naked eye could not—quickly and accurately spotting the smaller relief-type geoglyphs in the desert area. While it previously
RSS