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- Scientists from the University of Southampton have stored the entire human genome on a five-dimensional memory crystal.
- The durability of the crystal exceeds that of all known biological species and can last for billions of years.
- This technology has potential applications for preserving the genetic heritage of endangered plant and animal species.
Scientists from the University of Southampton have achieved a groundbreaking feat: storing the entire human genome on a five-dimensional memory crystal. The revolutionary technology promises data storage capacity that will last for billions of years, and could potentially provide a blueprint for humanity’s distant future.
Developed by the Optoelectronics Research Center (ORC), the 5D memory crystal uses fused quartz, known for its exceptional chemical and thermal durability. It can withstand extreme temperatures, shocks, and even cosmic rays, making it the most durable data storage material to date. The material has held a Guinness World Record since 2014, and the crystal’s lifespan exceeds that of all known biological species.
Coding and possible applications
Data is written onto the crystal using ultrafast lasers to create nanostructured cavities in the silica material. This “5D” encoding method uses two optical dimensions and three spatial coordinates, effectively embedding information throughout the crystal volume, unlike traditional surface marking methods.
The potential applications of this technology extend beyond preserving human history. The crystal could serve as a sustainable repository for the genomes of endangered and threatened plant and animal species, preserving their genetic heritage for future generations. Although the current limitations of synthetic biology prevent complex organisms from being directly reconstructed from genetic information alone, advances in this field offer hope for future breakthroughs.
Demonstrating the potential of technology
To demonstrate the capabilities of this technology, the team successfully stored the entire human genome on a five-dimensional memory crystal, rearranging each of the roughly three billion letters multiple times to ensure accuracy. The crystal now resides in the Archives of Humanity’s Memory – a time capsule located in a salt cave in Hallstatt, Austria.
Realizing that future civilizations may encounter this data long after we no longer exist, the researchers applied a visual key to the crystal’s surface. This key provides clues to the stored information and identifies the structure of DNA, the order of genes, and even the universal elements found in the human genome.
Heritage for future civilizations
This “visual language” is like a single language. guide The permanent nature of knowledge ensures that even when humanity is long gone, our legacy can be decoded by any future intelligence that comes across this magnificent artifact.
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