Scientific Computing

Computational science, or scientific computing, focuses on mathematical models and quantitative analyses to solve scientific problems. The approach here is to gain knowledge through analysis of mathematical models implemented with computers. 

Scientists at ETH Zurich, collaborating with IBM Research, Technical University of Munich and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have set a new record in fluid dynamic super computing using one of the fastest computer in the world, the Sequoia IBM BlueGene/Q. The team employed 13 trillion cells and reached a 14.4 Petaflop sustained performance. This is 73% of the theoretical peak! With a 200-fold improvement over previous research, it paves the way for cloud cavitation. Cloud cavitation happens when vapor cavities form in a liquid due to the pressure change. Damaging shockwaves can be created when the bubbles implode.

The simulation helped resolved many situations associated with the collapsing of bubbles, such as the shattering of kidney stones or design improving for high-pressure fuel injectors. Another area that this simulation can help improve upon is cancer treatment, specifically destroying tumorous cells or delivering drugs to a very precise location. It is pretty obvious to see how impactful this area of computer science can be for many aspects of our future.

Computer Graphics

There term computer graphics can be described as “almost everything on computers that is not text or sound.” It refers to several different specific areas of computer science, but all with the underlying focus on the creation, representation and manipulation of visual data. There are many kinds of image types including 2D, pixel art, vector graphics, 3D, and computer animation.
The termed coined with computer graphics is rendering. When an image is drawn on a computer it is considered to be rendered. Since the term was first coined by William Fetter, in 1960, computer graphics have come a long way. Starting out as interactive interfaces on appliances, the video game and movie industry quickly realized the appeal. Over the years, renderings became more and more life-like. The texture and fluidity of water has just recently been mastered. Human skin seemed to be a tough task to simulate for a while, but I have noticed huge improvements in recent video games such as Tomb Raider.
An article regarding the most cutting edge research in computer graphics showed me just where this area of computer science is headed. The advancement made in rendering is unbelievable. Scientists  used different types of tools to help them achieve near perfection. Density functions and thermal imaging are just a few to name. Check out this video of multiple SIGGRAPH Asia papers to see just how real these simulations can be!