Researchers at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom have recently accomplished a feat. They have laser-etched the entire human genome onto a new storage medium called a “5D” memory crystal. This new method of data storage can hold 360 terabytes.
This 5D crystal was designed by the university’s Optoelectronics Research Center. Made from silica glass, it even held the Guinness World Record for the most durable data storage ever. It can withstand all sorts of harsh conditions, like cosmic rays, tons of pressure, and high temperatures (up to 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 1,000 degrees Celsius).
To demonstrate the crystal’s capabilities, the team encoded the entire human genome in it, sequencing each of the roughly 3 billion base pairs of DNA 150 times for greater precision. The genome is now preserved in a time capsule called the “Human Memory Archive” in a salt cave in Hallstatt, Austria.
Sure, we can’t clone humans or recreate the species using genetic information alone yet, but these researchers believe this 5D memory crystal could help save endangered species and keep a lasting digital record of everything.
Peter Kazansky, the professor who led the research team, explained: “The 5D memory crystal opens up possibilities for other researchers to build an eternal repository of genomic information from which complex organisms such as plants and animals could be restored if science allows it in the future.”
What’s interesting about this crystal is the way it stores data – using two optical dimensions and three spatial dimensions – which means it can hold tons of information and last for a long time. Unlike old-school data storage, which degrades over time, experts believe this 5D memory crystal can keep its information intact for billions of years. So it’s a sort of safety net for humanity’s genetic legacy for future generations.
