Scientists at Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC) have patented ZEST, a piece of software that takes a rapid “snapshot” of a supercomputer’s calculations as it works. ZEST greatly speeds the ability to store complex calculations as a hedge against a system failure, saving precious supercomputing time and slowing calculations down far less than current methods. PSC co-inventors of ZEST included Paul Nowoczynski, Jason Sommerfield, Nathan Stone, and Jared Yanovich. Just as we all hit “save” as we work, scientists carrying out vast computations such as those required for detailed weather predictions or earthquake science need to periodically store — “checkpoint” — the machine’s computational state. In the case of a system malfunction, this allows them to avoid having to start from the beginning after hours or days of work. To read further, please visit http://www.psc.edu/index.php/newscenter/90-2013press/815-psc-scientists-patent-software-for-protecting-supercomputing-results-against-system-failures.