New Purdue Supercomputer One Of Fastest In World

It's not just for geeks. The new supercomputer at Purdue University -- the fastest university-owned data cruncher in the country -- has a host of down-to-earth applications, such as speeding development of cancer treatments and predicting hazardous weather patterns. "Without supercomputers, I wouldn't be able to do this kind of research at all," said Michael Baldwin, an assistant professor of atmospheric science who is using vast amounts of data to develop a computational model to predict hurricanes, tornadoes, and other weather phenomena. The computer, a collaboration between Purdue and software companies, was unveiled without the advance hoopla surrounding previous Purdue supercomputers, largely because it uses proprietary new technology.