15 February 2008: What's in a game console

The magazine New Scientist reports that researchers are using computer game consoles like low-cost super computers, to help them with complex calculations.

One scientist quoted by the magazine says his adapted Sony Play Station is 130 times faster than on an ordinary PC.

Another has strung together 16 consoles and programmed them to simulate the gravity waves that occur when two black holes collide.

The consoles contain advanced computer technology that allows them to efficiently share out the massive processing required to do the calculations, and advanced graphics chips that can readily display the complex results.

And, presumably, can also provide a little down-time entertainment between experiments.