Supercomputers are thousands of times more powerful than everyday desktops. But because they are so expensive, only a few large organisations and government departments can afford them. This has been a major barrier for researchers studying complex things such as the human brain and mental disorders. Now, scientists at the University of Sussex have come with a much cheaper option. Their technology gives basic computers the power to perform extremely complicated calculations and could benefit scientists around the world, the researchers say. Research Fellow in Computer Science Dr James Knight said: “I think the main benefit of our research is one of accessibility.