UK computing power in the spotlight
Published 11 May 2025
BBC Tech Now takes a tour of the data facilities at Edinburgh
The role of UK supercomputing in the processing and management of data that will be generated by the Rubin Observatory was highlighted by journalist Laura Goodwin on a visit to the University of Edinburgh.
Tech Now, the BBC's flagship technology programme, took a tour of the data facility with LSST:UK Programme Manager George Beckett, who explained how these supercomputers will enable scientific research when Rubin becomes operational this year.
A global network
Rubin's computing and storage resources are based in three Data Facilities – in the US, the UK, and France. The processed data will be pooled, with the entire survey data (imaging and catalogues) available to all three data facilities. The UK Data Facility is shared between the University of Edinburgh, University of Lancaster and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Read more about the data processing challenges posed by Rubin.
Watch the episode
BBC Tech Now | Supercomputers: Solving the Big Problems