factsnov04.indd


G a r y  P a t t i l l o  

A previous Fast Facts column was inadvertently run in the October 2004 issue of C&RL News. Please 
visit the online edition for the correct October Fast Facts column. The editors regret the error. 

World’s fastest supercomputer 
IBM has manufactured a prototype supercomputer using their Blue Gene/L 
System. It operates at speeds of up to 36 teraflops. A teraflop is 1 trillion calcu­
lations per second. This new speed overtakes NEC’s Earth Simulator in Japan, 
which runs at a mere 35.86 terafl ops. 
Top 500 Supercomputer Sites, “IBM supercomputer sets world speed record,” top500.org. September 28, 2004. 

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 
Oxford University Press has published the first complete revision of the Diction­
ary of National Biography in a century. It contains 50,000 biographies written by 
10,000 contributors from 51 countries. It took 12 years to revise the 60­volume 
work, which is also available online. The new edition has about 16,000 more 
entries than the original.
Louise Jury, “From Romans to rock stars: the biography of our nation,” The Independent (London), September 23, 
2004. 

Environmentally friendly books 
“Greenpeace has enlisted bestselling author Isabel Allende in the latest phase of 
its drive to urge British publishers to use paper from sustainable sources.” Many 
publishers use virgin wood pulp from ancient forests in Europe, where logging 
endangers the survival of wildlife. JK Rowling’s Canadian publisher printed one 
million copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on post­consumer 
recycled, chlorine­free paper, making it the only edition in the world to be totally 
forest friendly. “According to a study by . . . Environmental Defense, each ton 
of 100 percent post­consumer recycled paper that replaces virgin pulp saves 24 
trees, three tons of wood and 17 million BTUs of energy.” 
Michelle Pauli, “Greenpeace steps up ‘forest friendly’ campaign,” Guardian Unlimited, September 28, 2004. books. 
guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,1314824,00.html. 

Cyber security perception 

lib.unc.edu 

638 / C&RL News November 2004 

Gary Pattillo is reference librarian at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, e-mail: pattillo@refstaff. 

The National Cyber Security Alliance conducted a poll of computer users about 
their perceptions of online security. More than 30 percent of respondents believe 
that they are more likely to get struck by lightning, get audited by the IRS, or win 
the lottery than become the victim of a cyber security/privacy breach. According 
to the 2004 E­Crime Watch survey conducted by CSO magazine, however, there 
is a 70 percent chance of becoming a victim of computer security breach. 
National Cyber Security Alliance, “Cyber Security Perception Straw Poll,” www.staysafeonline.info/news 
/NCSACyberSecurityStrawPerceptionPollReport.pdf. September 30, 2004. 

Learning about learning 
The National Science Foundation awarded $36.5 million for three centers to 
explore how humans, animals, and machines learn. The centers are located at 
Boston University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Washing­
ton. Their goal is to study learning across a wide range—from processes at the 
cellular level to complex processes engaging different brain areas, to behaviors 
of individuals, to interactions in the classroom, to learning in informal settings, 
to learning performed by computer algorithms. 
The National Science Foundation, “Learning about learning,” NSF-OLPA-PR 04-137. www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/newsroom 
/pr.cfm?ni=15100000000121. September 30, 2004. 

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