SaveSave story

China now has more supercomputers than the U.S.

The High Performance Computing and Storage Complex II (HRSK-II), a supercomputer in Dresden, Germany. Photo: Jens Meyer / AP

China claimed 202 spots in the annual TOP500 supercomputer list with the U.S. only holding 143, its "lowest level since the list's inception 25 years ago," per CNET.

Why it matters: The power of supercomputers is crucial to some of the most important sciences of our age, including weather forecasting, climate change modeling, and astronomical exploration. China's rise in the TOP500 list is indicative of its increased investment in the sciences in its attempt to become a technological superpower.