A new technology capable of preserving vital information for billions of years has been developed by scientists at the University of Southampton in the UK. This amazing invention is called “5D Optical Data Storage,” or sometimes the “Superman Memory Crystal.”
How does it work?
The scientists use a very fast laser, called a femtosecond laser, to write information inside a special kind of glass known as fused quartz. This glass acts like a super strong storage device. What makes it unique is that it stores data in five different ways. Usually, we think of data being stored in three dimensions like height, width and depth.
However this crystal adds two more dimensions- the shape and direction of tiny patterns inside the glass. This lets it hold much more information than normal storage devices.
The glass crystal is incredibly tough. It can last for billions of years without losing any information. It can also survive extreme heat up to 1,000 degrees Celsius, very cold temperatures, fires, strong pressure and even cosmic radiation from space. This makes it perfect for preserving information for a very long time, even under harsh conditions.
This crystal stores as much as 360 terabytes of data on each individual disk. To give you an idea, that’s about the size of a human genome, which is the complete set of DNA in a person. This means it can store huge amounts of information in a very small space.
At present, the crystals are being kept safe in a place known as the “Memory of Mankind” archive. It’s hidden deep within a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria. The salt mine is a great place to store these crystals because it’s very stable and protects them from damage.
The researchers hope that in the distant future, either humans, other intelligent beings, or even machines will be able to read the information stored in these crystals. They believe this technology could help protect the genetic information of endangered plants and animals, ensuring that it is not lost forever.
More than that, scientists think this crystal could be very important for helping rebuild human civilization if something terrible happens. Because the data can last so long and is so safe, it could serve as a time capsule carrying the knowledge and history of humanity across millions or even billions of years.
In short, this “Superman Memory Crystal” is a powerful new way to save our world’s most valuable information. It offers hope that no matter what happens in the future, the story of life on Earth and its genetic secrets can be preserved and passed on to whoever needs them next.
