“Stores data for billions of years. An innovative memory crystal was created in England September 22, 13:30 Share: The key feature of the crystal is its durability (Photo: University of Southampton) Author: Kira Borysikhina Scientists from the University of Southampton have created a revolutionary data storage format — a 5D memory crystal. able to store information for billions of years. As part of their project, the team recorded the complete human genome on a crystal, which could be an important step for the revival of humanity”, — write on: ua.news
The key feature of the crystal is its durability (Photo: University of Southampton)
Scientists from the University of Southampton have created a revolutionary data storage format — a 5D memory crystal capable of storing information for billions of years.
As part of their project, the team recorded the complete human genome on a crystal, which could become an important step for the revival of humanity in the distant future.
The 5D memory crystal, developed by the Optoelectronics Research Center, is capable of storing up to 360 terabytes of data, remaining unchanged under extreme temperatures and exposure to cosmic radiation. This makes it ideal for creating long-term genome archives not only of humans, but also of endangered species of animals and plants.
The key feature of the crystal is its durability: it can withstand temperatures up to 1000 °C, as well as mechanical and radiation loads, without losing its properties. This technology is significantly superior in reliability to all modern data carriers, such as magnetic tapes or hard drives, which have a limited lifespan.
Data is recorded using ultrafast lasers that create nanostructures inside the crystal. Unlike traditional methods that use only two-dimensional surfaces, 5D technology encodes information using two optical and three spatial dimensions, which significantly increases data density.
The team of scientists, led by Professor Peter Kazansky, sees in this technology the possibility not only of preserving genomes, but also of potentially reviving extinct species in the distant future, if science reaches the required level. Although it is not currently possible to synthetically create humans or animals based on genetic information, significant advances in the field of synthetic biology, such as the creation of a synthetic bacterium in 2010, give reason for optimism.
The first created crystal with the complete human genome is stored in a time capsule in Austria, in the archive “Memory of humanity”. This archive is intended as a message to future generations or even extraterrestrial civilizations, containing visual clues to understanding the recorded information.
Thus, the 5D crystal can become the most important repository of information for future civilizations, surpassing all modern technologies in terms of durability and reliability.