Indestructible quartz crystal can store 360TB of data for billions of years

Researchers stored the human genome on a 5D crystal, capable of lasting billions of years, at the University of Southampton.

: The University of Southampton's researchers stored the human genome sequence onto a 5D optical memory crystal. This crystal, which can endure extreme conditions, holds up to 360TB of data. The technology might preserve species' genomes for potential future revival. An underground salt mine archive in Hallstatt, Austria, now houses the first backup.

Researchers at the University of Southampton successfully stored the entire human genome sequence onto an indestructible 5D optical memory crystal the size of a penny. This memory crystal can endure extreme temperatures and cosmic radiation, holding up to 360 terabytes with no degradation over billions of years.

The 5D crystals utilize ultra-fast lasers to create 'nanostructured voids' in silica, using both optical and spatial dimensions for unprecedented data density. The visual key on the crystal illustrates DNA molecular structures and nods to the 'Pioneer Plaque' for future intelligent beings.

The researchers envision this technology reviving organisms from DNA or preserving endangered species' genomes. They have deposited the first genome crystal backup in an underground salt mine archive in Hallstatt, Austria, for future civilization records.

5D memorygenome storagetechnology