The U.S. Department of Energy will introduce a supercomputer named “Doudna” next year, developed in collaboration with Nvidia and Dell.
The supercomputer, named after American biologist and Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna, is renowned for her groundbreaking gene editing technology CRISPR. This technology, derived from bacteria’s natural immune system, can identify and cut invading viral DNA.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced on Thursday (May 29) that the supercomputer system will utilize Nvidia’s latest “Vera Rubin” chips and will be installed by Dell using liquid cooling technology in servers. It is expected to be housed at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California, providing access to 11,000 researchers.
Wright emphasized that this supercomputer will accelerate breakthroughs in multiple scientific fields including chemistry, physics, and biology. It will primarily support various fundamental scientific research and will also be responsible for designing and maintaining the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.
Biologist Doudna added that in the early stages of developing the CRISPR gene editing technology, she received crucial funding and technical support from the Department of Energy. She stated, “We are at a very interesting moment in biology, marking the convergence of biology and computer technology.”
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also attended the event, stating, “Doudna is a scientific time machine—compressing years of discovery into a matter of days.” He further added, “Scientific supercomputing is one of humanity’s most essential tools. It is a key instrument driving knowledge discovery, the foundation of our country’s scientific discoveries, and a cornerstone of economic and technological leadership. Moreover, it is crucial for national security.”
A day prior, Republican Senator Jim Banks and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren expressed national security concerns to Huang regarding Nvidia’s plan to establish a research and development center in Shanghai.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton also commented on the social media platform X, saying, “Preventing advanced artificial intelligence chips from falling into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party is not just a commercial issue, but a matter of national security. (Congress) warns companies like Nvidia that any individuals illegally circumventing export controls will be held accountable.”