PlayStation3 enters the research in health and life sciences at the GRIB

The methodology used, called molecular dynamics (MD), is a simulation technique which enables the study of the dynamics proteins in their environment. Initial molecular dynamics simulations run on the Cell processors available at Barcelona Supercomputing Center at 20 times the speed of a fast standard processor used on personal computers. This achievement will enable universities and scientific groups to carry forward their research on supercomputing-like facilities at an affordable cost, and can be regarded as a proof of a fore-coming revolution in scientific computing.

GRIB is now planning to use this technology released to the group by Accellera Ltd for leading edge scientific discovery and has now requested to buy over 30 Cell processor based machines. Thanks to the Cell processor, a new synergy between gaming a scientific research is emerging.