NCSA RealTime #5

This episode originally aired in October 1992.

-Back to the Beginning: Recent galaxy maps show the universe to be distinctly "lumpy," with huge "walls" of galaxies straddling vast distances across otherwise empty voids. Using supercomputers and visualization, cosmologists at Princeton University and Illinois are developing advanced computer codes to simulate cosmic evolution.

-SuperQuest: Beyond the Contest: In our third edition, we introduced some of the winners of this high school science competition as they strived to master the tools and techniques of computational science during the summer of 1991.

-Casting Without a Crack: With recession and overseas competition intensifying, the American steel industry has fallen on hard times. But as in other industries, technology often holds the key to renewed global competitiveness.

-A Cloud Upon the Forest: For centuries, mists have blanketed the old growth fir forests of the Pacific Northwest, enhancing their beauty.  Today, though, the mists carry industrial pollutants, particularly acid rain, which could hasten the demise of the ancient trees.