What do world's fastest computer do?

How fast is the Titan? Its theoretical top speed is 27 petaflops, which doesn't sound that impressive unless you know that it means 27,000 trillion calculations per second. That's hundreds of thousands times faster than your top-of-the-line PC. Unlike your PC, though, Titan won't fit on a desktop; it occupies a space the size of a basketball court.

Researchers plan to use it to run detailed simulations of the Earth's climate, which may yield ideas on how to lessen global warming. They also may use it to help design super-efficient internal combustion engines and solar panels, and to run biological simulations that will help speed the testing of new drugs. On the pure science level, Titan could help scientists simulate the breaking of the bonds that hold molecules together, giving them new insights into one of the most important processes in nature.

World's most advanced humanoid robot

Atlas is a high mobility, humanoid robot designed to negotiate outdoor, rough terrain. Atlas can walk bipedally leaving the upper limbs free to lift, carry, and manipulate the environment. In extremely challenging terrain, Atlas is strong and coordinated enough to climb using hands and feet, to pick its way through congested spaces.

Articulated, sensate hands will enable Atlas to use tools designed for human use. Atlas includes 28 hydraulically-actuated degrees of freedom, two hands, arms, legs, feet and a torso. An articulated sensor head includes stereo cameras and a laser range finder. Atlas is powered from an off-board, electric power supply via a flexible tether.