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University of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center


Rare quasar triplet forms most massive object in universe

A rare quasar triplet formed a massive black hole with a mass of 10 billion solar masses, according to recent simulations. The triple system, composed of three galaxies with supermassive black holes at their centers, is believed to be the progenitor of ultra-massive black holes.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 1, 2023

HETDEX reveals galaxy gold mine in first large survey

Astronomers have cataloged over 51,863 Lyman-alpha-emitting galaxies, 123,891 star-forming galaxies, and 4,976 active galactic nuclei using HETDEX's spectroscopic data. The survey is a non-targeted, moon-sized survey that collects spectra from 35,000 fiber optic cables, providing a unique dataset for future galaxy mapping.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 9, 2023

Deep learning for new alloys

Using the Stampede2 supercomputer, researchers have developed a deep learning model that predicts the properties of over 370,000 high-entropy alloy compositions. The study also applied association rule mining to discover design rules for high-entropy alloy development and proposed several compositions for experimentalists to synthesize.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·Journalnpj Computational Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 20, 2022

A cloudless future? The mystery at the heart of climate forecasts

Researchers have developed a new method to include cloud physics in global climate models, which could lead to more accurate predictions. The approach involves breaking down the modeling problem into smaller, independent simulations that can capture finer-scale turbulent eddies and realistic shallow cloud formation.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalJournal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 31, 2022

Finding superconductivity in nickelates

A team of researchers led by Arizona State University's Antia Botana discovered a new high-temperature superconductor in nickelates, a material that could pave the way to room temperature superconductivity. The discovery was made possible by combining theoretical models with experimental results using supercomputers.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 25, 2022

First image of the beastly black hole at the heart of our galaxy

The Event Horizon Telescope captured the first image of Sagittarius A*, a hot and dense black hole surrounded by superheated gas, improving our understanding of black holes. The Frontera supercomputer supported this achievement through innovative data-driven astronomy.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 12, 2022

21 scientific codes selected for new high-performance software improvement program

The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) has selected 21 scientific codes and 'grand challenge'-class science problems that will receive funding through the Characteristic Science Applications program. The program aims to improve scientific software, generate benchmarks for the Leadership-Class Computing Facility, and demonstrate the...

Planet-scale MRI

Seismologists have developed methods to take wave signals from seismometers and reverse engineer features of the medium they pass through, known as seismic tomography. A new full-waveform inversion model uses 3D wave simulations and data sensitivities at the global scale to improve the resolution of current seismic models.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalComputers & Geosciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 29, 2022

Monitoring Arctic permafrost with satellites, supercomputers, and deep learning

Researchers are using satellite imagery and deep learning to analyze ice wedges in the Arctic, which can indicate changes in permafrost. The team has achieved accuracy rates of up to 90% in detecting low-centered and high-centered polygons, providing valuable information for understanding climate change.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalPhotogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 22, 2022

Computing carbon storage

A University of Texas researcher used supercomputers to understand how CO₂ storage works at the level of micrometer-wide pores in rock, finding that wettability and injection rate are crucial factors. Her research aims to optimize CO₂ storage for a large-scale transition away from fossil fuels.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalInternational Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 10, 2022

Solving a superconducting mystery with more precise computations

Researchers used a new method to study phonons and electrons in cuprates, resolving the basis for high-temperature superconductivity. The method, developed by Clemson University's Yao Wang, enabled accurate calculations of electron-phonon coupling and its impact on neighboring electrons.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 28, 2022

When water is coming from all sides

A team of researchers, including NOAA and William & Mary, has developed the world's first three-dimensional operational storm surge model, called SCHISM. The model forecasts coastal flooding in complex coastal regions by incorporating fine-scale features like engineered structures and culverts into its forecasts.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalNatural Hazards·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 13, 2022

Identifying individual proteins using nanopores and supercomputers

Researchers from Delft University of Technology and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a method to identify individual proteins with single-amino acid resolution, reducing errors to practically zero. Using DNA nanopores and supercomputer simulations, they characterized protein sequences with high accuracy.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 10, 2021

COVID gets quantum treatment for drug discovery

Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory used Stampede2 to refine the screening of potential drug molecules targeting COVID-19's spike protein. The method, developed by Stephan Irle and Van Quan Vuong, uses quantum mechanics-based ranking refinement and binding analysis to identify top candidates for further testing.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalJournal of Chemical Information and Modeling·DateJul 5, 2021

Concrete wall seismic test data wins NHERI DesignSafe Dataset Award 2021

Researchers generated first-of-its-kind data on lightly reinforced concrete walls, which helped revise New Zealand Concrete Structures Standard and U.S. Building Code Requirements. The dataset, published on NHERI DesignSafe cyberinfrastructure, revealed hidden damage in walls that led to improved understanding of earthquake engineering.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalJournal of Structural Engineering·DateJun 17, 2021

Simulating 800,000 years of California earthquake history to pinpoint risks

A new framework predicts likelihood and impact of earthquakes over an entire region by simulating hundreds of thousands of years of seismic history in California. The results compare well with historical earthquakes and display a realistic distribution of earthquake probabilities.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateJan 25, 2021