Scientists Create 5D Memory Crystal, Musk Proposes Storing Knowledge
UK scientists have announced the creation of a groundbreaking 5D 'everlasting' memory crystal, a new data storage format that could revolutionize how information is preserved. Tech billionaire Elon Musk has suggested using this technology to store 'all of human knowledge'.
The 5D memory crystal is capable of surviving for billions of years, storing up to 360 terabytes of data without degradation, even at extreme temperatures. Unlike traditional data storage formats, which degrade over time, this crystal is built to last, enduring high temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius, as well as freezing and fire.
In a post on X, Musk proposed writing the entire body of human knowledge into these crystals, envisioning a future where vital information is safeguarded for generations to come.
Developed by a team from the University of Southampton, the crystal has already been used to store the entire human genome, marking a significant achievement. The team hopes this pioneering device could eventually serve as a blueprint for restoring species from extinction, storing the genetic data of endangered plants and animals.
Professor Peter Kazansky of Southampton explained that the 5D memory crystal could provide an 'everlasting repository of genomic information," offering the possibility of reviving complex organisms like plants and animals in the distant future if science allows.
The crystal is created using ultra-fast lasers that inscribe data into nanostructured voids within silica, with feature sizes as small as 20 nanometres. The encoding method involves two optical dimensions and three spatial coordinates, giving it the name '5D.' This unique structure ensures the longevity of the data, far outlasting both humans and many other species.
To demonstrate the concept, the researchers successfully encoded the full human genome onto the 5D crystal. For accuracy, each of the genome's three billion letters was sequenced 150 times. The crystal is now stored in the Memory of Mankind archive, a specialized time capsule located in a salt cave in Hallstatt, Austria.
This revolutionary memory crystal opens up new possibilities for the future of data storage, offering a way to preserve information for billions of years.
