'Eternal' 5D memory crystal capable of storing 360 TB of data for billions of years now holds a full human genome
- 5D memory crystals preserve a complete human genome for future generations.
- The genetic code is preserved in fused quartz.
- Indestructible memory crystals can withstand heat, intense force, and cosmic radiation
capable of storing up to 360 terabytes of data, with a shelf life of nearly 14 billion years.
Unlike conventional data storage formats that deteriorate over time, the technology, known as the "Superman memory crystal," has the potential to preserve data for long periods, opening up new possibilities in scientific, environmental, and historical record-keeping.
The 5D memory crystal developed by the University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) is a singular data storage medium that utilises five dimensions to encode information.
5D memory crystal
The term "5D" refers to the two optical dimensions and three spatial coordinates that are encoded into the crystal. With ultra-fast lasers, the team etches data into nanostructured voids within the silica material, creating a highly durable and stable form of memory storage.
A human genome is the complete set of genetic instructions for a human being, encoded in DNA. It comprises roughly 3 billion base pairs arranged into 23 pairs of chromosomes situated within the nucleus of each cell.
Although it is currently not feasible to artificially recreate humans, plants, or animals from genetic information, advancements have been made in synthetic biology. Consequently, the preservation of genomes using 5D memory crystals could potentially play a vital role in reviving extinct species (such as our own) in the far-off future.
The inventors of the 5D memory crystal were thinking ahead, anticipating that it might be unearthed many years from now, long after people are no longer around. The crystal is kept in the Memory of Mankind archive - a special time capsule situated in a salt cave in Hallstatt, Austria. This archive acts as a safeguard, ensuring that human history and knowledge are preserved for the benefit of future generations.
The information stored on the crystal is carefully marked with fundamental elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen, as well as the four building blocks of the genetic code - adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine. Furthermore, the molecular structure of DNA and the arrangement of genes within chromosomes are shown, providing detailed guidance on how to decipher the genetic information stored within.
However, it is worth noting that the 5D memory crystals demand a highly advanced skill set and sophisticated equipment to encode and decode the data stored within them, so those seeking to rebuild the human race after an extinction event may need to resort to more conventional methods.
The crystal, made from fused quartz, is one of the most chemically and thermally robust materials found on Earth, and can withstand temperatures as high as 1000°C, resist direct impact forces of up to 10 tons per square centimetre, and is unaffected by long-term exposure to cosmic radiation. The durability and storage capacity of the 5D memory crystal earned it a Guinness World Record in 2014 for being the most resilient data storage material ever created.
"We are aware from the findings of other researchers that genetic material from simple organisms can be synthesised and used within an existing cell to create a viable living organism in a laboratory," says Professor Peter Kazansky, the leader of the scientific team at the University of Southampton.
"The 5D memory crystal provides an opportunity for other researchers to establish an enduring library of genomic data, which could potentially be used to revive complex organisms like plants and animals if future scientific advancements permit...The visual code etched onto the crystal reveals what information is stored within and how it could be utilised...We can't predict if memory crystal technology will match the durability of these plaques, but each disc is expected to outlast them with a high degree of certainty," said Professor Kazansky.
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