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About Rachel McDowell

Rachel McDowell is a science writer for the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility.
Latest Posts | By Rachel McDowell
Pioneering Frontier: Meeting Industry at Scale
2 years ago

Pioneering Frontier: Meeting Industry at Scale

By  •  2 years ago  •  Featured, People

The “Pioneering Frontier” series features stories profiling the many talented ORNL employees behind the construction and operation of the OLCF’s incoming exascale supercomputer, Frontier. The HPE Cray system is scheduled …
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OLCF Organizes First Hackathon on Slate Service
2 years ago

OLCF Organizes First Hackathon on Slate Service

By  •  2 years ago  •  People

The Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) hosted its first ever Slate hackathon for users of the OLCF’s Slate platform, a resource that provides container orchestration services and gives users …
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Stunning Specs: What’s inside the Nation’s First Exascale Supercomputer Facility?
2 years ago

Stunning Specs: What’s inside the Nation’s First Exascale Supercomputer Facility?

By  •  2 years ago  •  Technology

Preparing for the nation’s first exascale system, the upcoming HPE Cray EX Frontier system at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), has been a colossal …
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Reaching Remarkable States of Matter with Laser Simulations
2 years ago

Reaching Remarkable States of Matter with Laser Simulations

By  •  2 years ago  •  Featured, Science

With the help of supercomputers, scientists are getting a better idea of how to study some of the strongest electromagnetic fields in the universe.

Scientists aim to use high-power lasers …
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OLCF’s Advanced Technologies Section Hosts Seminar Series
2 years ago

OLCF’s Advanced Technologies Section Hosts Seminar Series

By  •  2 years ago  •  People

The Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility’s (OLCF’s) Advanced Technologies Section (ATS) is hosting a series of seminars on topics relevant to its section groups and beyond. On the second and fourth …
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Shape-Based Model Sheds Light on Simplified Protein Binding
2 years ago

Shape-Based Model Sheds Light on Simplified Protein Binding

By  •  2 years ago  •  Featured, Science

Can something as simple as shape fully determine whether or not proteins will bind together? Scientists are commissioning supercomputers to find out.

A team led by Sharon Glotzer, distinguished professor …
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GE Spins up Supercomputer Models to Zero in on Energy Loss in Turbines
2 years ago

GE Spins up Supercomputer Models to Zero in on Energy Loss in Turbines

By  •  2 years ago  •  Events, Featured, Industry

High-pressure turbines are complex pieces of engineering and vital components of gas turbines used to propel jet engines. The more efficient these jet engines are, the better the outcomes for …
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Physicists Crack the Code to Signature Superconductor Kink Using Supercomputing
2 years ago

Physicists Crack the Code to Signature Superconductor Kink Using Supercomputing

By  •  2 years ago  •  Featured, Science

Scientists have long been trying to understand the behavior of superconductors, materials that have zero electrical resistance when they reach sufficiently low temperatures. Superconductors might be useful for technologies such …
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Scientists Tap Supercomputing to Study Exotic Matter in Stars
2 years ago

Scientists Tap Supercomputing to Study Exotic Matter in Stars

By  •  2 years ago  •  Featured, Science

At the heart of some of the smallest and densest stars in the universe lies nuclear matter that might exist in never-before-observed exotic phases. Neutron stars, which form when the …
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Virtual Workshop on HPCToolkit Profiler Gives Computational Codes a Boost
2 years ago

Virtual Workshop on HPCToolkit Profiler Gives Computational Codes a Boost

By  •  2 years ago  •  People

When users of the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) supercomputers want to improve their scientific codes, they employ tools called profilers that determine which pieces of their codes are lacking …
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Pioneering Frontier: Staying on Track
2 years ago

Pioneering Frontier: Staying on Track

By  •  2 years ago  •  Featured, People

The “Pioneering Frontier” series features stories profiling the many talented ORNL employees behind the construction and operation of the OLCF’s incoming exascale supercomputer, Frontier. The HPE Cray system is scheduled …
Read More

Computer Simulations Shed Light on Nanomaterial Structures
2 years ago

Computer Simulations Shed Light on Nanomaterial Structures

By  •  2 years ago  •  Featured, Science

2D nanomaterials, with a thickness of a single layer of atoms, have unique electrical and optical properties that make them good candidates for use in electronics and optical sensors. An …
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Arthur “Buddy” Bland, World-Leading Supercomputing Project Director, Retires after 40 Years Dedicated to HPC
2 years ago

Arthur “Buddy” Bland, World-Leading Supercomputing Project Director, Retires after 40 Years Dedicated to HPC

By  •  2 years ago  •  Featured, People

“No risk, no reward.” It’s a familiar sentiment in business and entrepreneurial ventures. Risk drives innovation and propels organizations to new heights. It’s certainly familiar to Arthur “Buddy” Bland, former …
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OLCF’s Buddy Bland Earns DOE Secretary of Energy Exceptional Service Award
2 years ago

OLCF’s Buddy Bland Earns DOE Secretary of Energy Exceptional Service Award

By  •  2 years ago  •  People

Arthur “Buddy” Bland of the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) was presented the Secretary’s Exceptional Service Award in December for 40 years of exceptional service to the US Department …
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UT–ORNL Data Center Course Takes Students on a Virtual Ride through ORNL’s Supercomputing Facilities
2 years ago

UT–ORNL Data Center Course Takes Students on a Virtual Ride through ORNL’s Supercomputing Facilities

By  •  2 years ago  •  People

What does it take to manage a robust data center? And how can engineers get the experience needed to oversee both the facilities—the power, cooling, and electrical components—and the computing …
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Scientists Use Supercomputers to Study Reliable Fusion Reactor Design, Operation
2 years ago

Scientists Use Supercomputers to Study Reliable Fusion Reactor Design, Operation

By  •  2 years ago  •  Featured, Science

Nuclear fusion, the same kind of energy that fuels stars, could one day power our world with abundant, safe, and carbon-free energy. Aided by supercomputers Summit at the US Department …
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