Marvelous models

The availability of computational resources enables the simulation of increasingly intricate models in many fields of science. Scientists learn about the world by observing, manipulating, measuring, and abstracting. To make sure that they truly understand their system, and to gain insight beyond what experimental data can provide, many also turn to building mathematical models. Some models are based directly on fundamental physical laws, but most rely on approximations. The computational costs vary widely--from exactly solvable models to those that require all the computer power you can get.