2024 in Review

 We were amazed at the science

Toothed whale echolocation – The ability of dolphins and whales to navigate with sound is much better than our current sonar technology. Scientists are using Bridges-2 to study how they receive directional clues from sound, which could lead to better sonar systems, which in turn could help us observe ocean animals and understand how they are reacting to the changing climate.

Read more about dolphins and climate change.

NAIRR – When the NSF piloted the National AI Research Resource program in January, we were proud that PSC helped to create the allocations software and procedures that NAIRR uses.  We are even prouder that both Neocortex and Bridges-2 are part of the pilot. Neocortex, PSC’s AI resource, was one of the six original resources available in the NAIRR program at its inception.  Bridges-2, our flagship system, joined Neocortex as a NAIRR resource later in the spring.

Read more about why Neocortex was chosen and how Bridges-2 joined the project.

Vocal learning – When watching a toddler learn to speak, it sometimes seems like you can see (their brains churning) (the gears in their heads turning) to make sense of language. Now using Bridges-2, scientists have found that the anatomy and genetics of language learning in humans has a lot in common with the anatomy and genetics involved in vocal learning in other mammals such as bats, whales, and seals.

Read more about vocal learning in mammals here.

Disease research – Aggregation of proteins underlies many human disorders, including Alzheimer’s. Researchers used the second-generation Anton supercomputer developed by D. E. Shaw Research and hosted at PSC to study how the amyloid protein aggregates to form plaques in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Their simulations revealed an unexpected mechanism that accelerates aggregation and helps explain real-world behavior. The findings may lead to better treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s and other human diseases.

Read more about studying the mechanisms of plaque formation.

We were honored with Center-wide awards

We were honored this year with four HPCWire awards, two from our peers, and two from the editors of HPCWire.

Both the editors of HPCWire and our peers awarded us the Best Use Of AI Methods for Augmenting HPC Applications, for research which revealed parallel genetic evolutionary paths for vocalization in bats, seals, whales, and humans, and a potential link to autism spectrum disorder in humans.

The editors of HPCWire also awarded us first place in the Best Use of HPC in Industry category for research which created a virtual water treatment plant. In this work, AI learned from veteran engineers’ responses to simulated breakdowns, and this knowledge sharing can be used to train new engineers and address potential staff shortages in water treatment facilities.

Our peers also recognnized us as part of the Best HPC Collaboration, for the contributions being made by both Neocortex and Bridges-2 in the NSF NAIRR pilot program.

Read more about the HPCWire awards. 

… and individual awards

Some of our staff also won individual awards. At the Mellon College of Science awards ceremony, Dana O’Connor and Stephen Deems brought home awards for the Senior Rookie and for Outstanding Achievement, respectively, beating out competitors from all other MCS departments. See more about Dana and about Stephen  and why we are so happy to have them at PSC.

…including some Beasts

Our Benchmark Beasts team of  eight interns competed at SC24 in November in a contest focused on reproducibility. Following SC24, they were chosen as the only U.S. based team to be invited to the International Student Cluster competition  at the International Supercomputing  conference next summer in Germany. Well done, Benchmark Beasts, and good luck!

Read more about the Benchmark Beasts here.

…and lots of incredible new staff