World speed record for polymer simulations shattered by over a hundred-fold
(PHYSorg.com Chemistry)

From a humble plastic bag to ultra-light airplane wings, polymers are everywhere. These molecules are long chains of atoms that play many roles for good and bad, from organic photovoltaics to indestructible plastic pollution. Polymers are useful in liquid form, as well: The difference between tomato puree and ketchup is merely 0.5 percent of xanthan gum, which is a polymer made from sugar. Ketchup is thick but not sticky, thanks to xanthan chains that are so long that they interpenetrate and form an entangled web that resists flow. The same principle also underpins high-tech applications like ink jet printing.