NERSCPowering Scientific Discovery for 50 Years

DESI Shares Largest 3D Map of the Universe Yet

Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument releases data on 18.7 million galaxies, quasars, and stars — the largest dataset of its kind ever shared. » Read More

More Efficient Fusion

So-called “slow waves” waste energy in fusion reactions. Recent simulations successfully tested a new method to stop their formation. » Read More

NERSC Launches IBM Quantum Innovation Center

NERSC users can now apply to access quantum computing resources through a partnership with IBM. » Read More

AI Shows Promise for Mapping Disease Progression

» Read More

Quantum Computing Partnership Extended

After a successful first year punctuated by strong scientific results, NERSC’s partnership with QuEra Computing has been extended. » Read More

National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center

NERSC is the mission scientific computing facility for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, the nation’s single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences.

Computing at NERSC

Now Computing

Some of the science now being computed at NERSC

Numbers not changing? Check the center status page for information.

Project System Nodes Node Hours Used
Computation of Electronic Properties of Materials from First Principles
 Basic Energy Sciences
 PI: Steven Louie, University of California Berkeley
perlmutter 128
Partnership Center for High-fidelity Boundary Plasma Simulation: SciDAC-4 Center
 Fusion Energy Sciences
 PI: Choongseok Chang, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)
perlmutter 128
Lattice QCD search for physics beyond the standard model
 High Energy Physics
 PI: Rajan Gupta, Los Alamos National Laboratory
perlmutter 128
A Digital Twin for Spatiotemporal experiments
 Basic Energy Sciences
 PI: Subramanian Sankaranarayanan, Argonne National Laboratory
perlmutter 100
Quarkonia in Hot Medium
 Nuclear Physics
 PI: Peter Petreczky, Brookhaven National Lab
perlmutter 64

Did You Know?

'Bubbles' the Cray-2

Cray 2 cropped

In 1985, NERSC was the first to install the Cray-2, then the fastest computer in the world. Today, just about any mobile phone has more processing power. The Cray-2 was nicknamed "Bubbles" for its unique liquid cooling system.

 

Visit our interactive timeline to learn more about NERSC history.