National Exascale Day is a celebration dedicated to recognizing the remarkable achievements in supercomputing, particularly the advent of exascale computing, which refers to systems capable of performing at least one quintillion (10^18) calculations per second. This day honors the scientists and researchers who leverage these powerful machines to drive breakthroughs across various fields, including medicine, climate science, and artificial intelligence.
Quick Facts
- When is it?: October 18
- Tagged as: National Exascale Day
- What’s the hashtag?: #ExascaleDay
- When was it founded?: October 18, 2019
- Who founded it?: The Exascale Computing Project (ECP) in collaboration with Cray (now part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise) and U.S. Department of Energy laboratories.
History of National Exascale Day
National Exascale Day was established to commemorate the significant milestones achieved in supercomputing. The day serves as a reminder of the ongoing advancements in computational power and its implications for various scientific fields.
Timeline
- 2019: National Exascale Day is founded.
- 2020: The first observance of Exascale Day takes place.
- 2021: The U.S. Department of Energy announces plans for three exascale supercomputers.
- 2022: Frontier, the first public exascale supercomputer, is unveiled.
- 2023: Aurora becomes the second exascale supercomputer operational in the U.S.
- 2024: El Capitan is recognized as the world’s fastest exascale supercomputer.
Dates by Next Year 2025 to 2030
| Year | Month and Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | October 18 | Saturday |
| 2026 | October 18 | Sunday |
| 2027 | October 18 | Monday |
| 2028 | October 18 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | October 18 | Thursday |
| 2030 | October 18 | Friday |
Observed
National Exascale Day is observed through various events, discussions, and social media campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the importance of exascale computing in solving complex global challenges.
Fun Facts About National Exascale Day
- Exascale computers can perform calculations that would take billions of people over four years to complete in just one second.
- The term “exascale” derives from “exa,” which signifies one quintillion.
- Supercomputers are instrumental in fields like climate modeling, medical research, and energy efficiency.
Quiz
- What is the primary purpose of National Exascale Day?
- When was the first National Exascale Day celebrated?
- Name one application of exascale computing.
Answers:
- To celebrate advancements in supercomputing and its impact on science.
- October 18, 2019.
- Climate modeling or medical research.
FAQs
Q: What does “exascale” mean?
A: Exascale refers to computing systems capable of performing at least one quintillion calculations per second.
Q: Why is exascale computing important?
A: It enables breakthroughs in various scientific fields by providing unprecedented computational power for complex simulations and data analysis.
Q: Who celebrates National Exascale Day?
A: Researchers, scientists, educators, and technology enthusiasts participate in celebrating this day globally.
Related
- Supercomputing advancements
- High-performance computing
- Scientific breakthroughs enabled by technology