PS3 Crazy Physics – Not Just For Games

by Wade Larson on February 13, 2008 at 6:26 pm

It seems that nerds of all kinds are picking up Next-Gen consoles, if, perhaps, for different reasons.

You see, it turns out the PS3 can do more than play video games and Blu-Ray DVDs. It can simulate the effects of black holes colliding.

Turns out researchers are keen to get their hands on the processors within the PlayStation 3 for use in simulating particle interactions, from the smallest atoms to absurdly large objects careening through space.

Canada.com reported this interesting twist on the PS3’s capabilities, explaining why the chips are valuable to scientists:

The PS3 console uses a Cell chip, made by IBM, Sony and Toshiba, that comprises a central processing unit and eight slave processors and can run on the open-access Linux operating system.

The chip is prized by chemists and physicists because the kinds of calculations required to make high-quality graphics for games are similar to those used to simulate reactions between particles, ranging from the molecular to the astronomical.

So if you get bored with Devil May Cry 4, or are looking for something to do while waiting for Grand Theft Auto IV, try using your PS3 to solve world problems, like curing cancer, or better yet, creating a simulation of what happens big things in space smash into each other.

I expect YouTubes of your homework.

Source: Canada.com

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