ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Nanotechnology

This memory lasts forever: quartz coin can store 360 TB for 14 billion years

Researchers at Southampton University in the UK have developed a technique which allows them to store 360 TB of data for a virtual infinity.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
June 1, 2016 - Updated on April 24, 2019
in Nanotechnology, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Researchers at Southampton University in the UK have developed a technique which allows them to store 360 TB of data for a virtual infinity.

Image via Futurism.

That’s right, 360 terabytes of information can fit onto this one sliver of nanostructured quartz. The technology uses femtosecond laser pulses to write data in the 3D structure of quartz at the nanoscale. These pulses create three tiny layers of nanostructured dots, just microns away from each other.

This whole thing is technically called a 5D storage device – aside for the three space dimensions, there is also the polarity and intensity of the beam that creates the dot. The storage technology is extremely durable, not only to time but also to other factors such as temperature. The thin disc can withstand temperatures of up to 157 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for longer periods of time. The technology was first experimentally demonstrated in 2013 when a 300 kb digital copy of a text file was successfully recorded in 5D.

Here’s a short video showing how it’s made:

Coined as the ‘Superman memory crystal’, the technology eventually can make sure that nothing we know will ever be forgotten, as Professor Peter Kazansky from Southampton University’s Optoelectronics Research Centre says:

“It is thrilling to think that we have created the technology to preserve documents and information and store it in space for future generations. This technology can secure the last evidence of our civilisation: all we’ve learnt will not be forgotten.”

No information was revealed about the rate of transfer of this data, and whether it could work as conventional storage. Researchers are currently looking for industry partners to scale up production and make the end product more efficient.

RelatedPosts

The best and worst meat replacements for your health, your wallet and the planet – new research
Smart ‘curtains’ open and close just by responding to light only
Why one pole is melting, while the other is still packed with ice
Small and dangerous: 10 of the most dangerous human parasites ever discovered

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Health

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

byTibi Puiu
1 day ago
Anthropology

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

byTudor Tarita
1 day ago
Biology

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

byTudor Tarita
1 day ago
News

This $8750 Watch Was Designed for Space and Could Finally Replace Apollo-era Omega Watches

byTudor Tarita
1 day ago

Recent news

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

July 4, 2025

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

July 4, 2025

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

July 4, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.