The coin-sized crystal is said to store data for 13 billion years

Researchers in University of Southampton You have one 5D Crystal It was developed to be able to store data for billions of years. Now on the memory crystal they have this The entire human genome Saved as is Announcement from the university called.

➤ Read more: Molecular storage allows data to survive for centuries

The storage medium just doesn't hold up 360 TB of data. It can also withstand harsh conditions. This includes low temperatures as well as heat of up to 1000 degrees Celsius. Crystal can withstand pressure of up to 10 tons per square centimeter. also Cosmic rays You can't harm stored data, as they say.

Researchers use an ultrafast laser Data in cavities Patterned inside silicon dioxide – with structural sizes of only 20 nanometers. Two visual dimensions and three spatial coordinates are used – hence the “5D” in the name. The crystal was developed by Optoelectronics Research Center (ORC) University of Southampton. Research into the technology has been ongoing for several years.

Restoration of organisms

With their extreme longevity, the crystals are likely to affect humans and other species He survives becomes. The stored information does not currently allow the creation of people, plants or animals. However, this is conceivable in the distant future, and there has recently been significant progress in this area Synthetic biologyAs the researchers explain.

“5D storage crystal opens the possibility for researchers to build an archive of genomic information from which they can recreate complex organisms such as plants and animals,” he said. Peter Kazansky He pointed out who led the search team.

Of course, billions of years in the future, it is also possible that the crystal will be found by future organisms, with no other connection to today's civilization or time. “The one in the crystal Engraved optical switches “It gives the researcher information about the data stored in it and how it can be used,” Kazansky says.

➤ Read more: Ceramic microfilm stores data forever

Storage in Austria

By the way, the genome crystal is stored in it Hallstatt in Austria. As part of the project Human memory (Here to the site) Various information from our time is stored there in a salt mine in order to preserve it for future generations.

The project itself talks about “The largest time capsule of humanity“.The salt mine will have ideal conditions for long-term storage.