Supercomputers: animal magic.

China: The "River in the Sky" supercomputer (below) jumps to Number Five on the Top 500 list.:


















..but Japan, the country that gave us the Earth Simulator (below) - the world's fastest supercomputer between 2002 and 2004 - now suspends building the next generation. :
















...and the U.S.?












ORNL's Jaguar slinks past LANL's Roadrunner to the Number One spot and U.T's Kraken is coiled at Number Three.







Fearsome beasts! Now arguably the most friendly animals to be found at the Supercomputing '09 conference in Portland oregon were in the Baby Supercomputer Petting Zoo.