Germany created an indestructible USB stick that lasts over 200 years, the problem is it’s not capable of storing everything

News JVTech Germany created an indestructible USB stick that lasts over 200 years, the problem is it’s not capable of storing everything

Small and devilishly effective

Countries like Germany, the United States or Japan continue to use floppy disks, as many services still rely on this format. However, if we are looking for extreme longevity, there is a device capable of storing data for more than 200 yearsalthough it has a major drawback: its capacity is so small that it is hardly practical to use it. This is the Blue Steel Storage Devicewhich can retain data for more than 200 years, at temperatures of 35°C, or up to 95 years if temperatures rise to 55°C.

This is possible thanks to its type of ferroelectric RAM, called FeRAM, which gives it this longevity compared to USB and SSD drives, whose lifespan is between 16 and 20 years. However, this longevity does not compensate for its limitations, since its capacity is only 8 KB, making it an ideal drive only for very light data requiring a long lifespan.

A very particular use

Thanks to the technology it uses, this device offers features such as high write speed, high number of read/write cycles and low power consumption. With these specifications, it easily outperforms NAND flash memory, which is the standard memory capable of retaining data even without being connected to a power source. Another advantage is its endurance, with the ability to withstand 10^12 read/write cycles at 85°C, making it virtually indestructible in most environments.

While 8 KB may seem like a minimal amount of storage by today’s standards, this device is actually designed for very specific useswhere longevity of information is paramount. It is primarily used as a “digital time capsule”, ideal for secure storage of important passwords, cryptocurrency keys, personal notes or for “geocaching”an activity that involves hiding and finding “treasures” anywhere using GPS.

For added security, this storage device has its own built-in text editor, which can be accessed through programs such as PuTTY and Tera Term, allowing users to manage information without relying on software or external hardware.

What about the technical specifications?

The Blaustahl Storage Device is also equipped with a Cortex-M0+ Raspberry Pi RP2040 dual-core processor, clocked at 133 MHz and with 264 KB of SRAM. Ironically, its firmware uses 4MB of NOR flash memory, allowing it to evolve in the future to offer encryption capabilities for increased security.

The device is available on the market at a price of €29.95. It ships directly from Germany, but for those who want to experiment, the company has made all the firmware files, schematics, and case designs available at GitHubwhere users can modify them as they wish.