British scientists from the University of Southampton have etched the human genome onto a crystal that can last for billions of years, potentially long after humans become extinct. The team used lasers to inscribe the data on a 5D crystal, which is highly durable and resistant to degradation over time.
Unlike other storage formats, the 5D crystal does not degrade and can withstand massive forces, extreme temperatures, and exposure to cosmic radiation. This makes it an ideal medium for storing genetic information for future use.
The team hopes that this technology could be used in the future to record the genomes of endangered plant and animal species that are facing extinction. However, there is a catch – it is currently not possible to synthetically create humans, plants, and animals using genetic information alone.
Professor Peter Kazansky, who led the project, explained that the longevity of the 5D crystal means that the information would be available if DNA advances were ever made. He noted that while it is possible to synthesize genetic material from simple organisms, this technology has not yet been developed for more complex species like humans.
The crystal includes a visual key that shows details about what data is stored inside and how it could be used by future intelligence – whether human or machine – to create a human. The key provides information on the universal elements, DNA molecule structure, gene positioning in chromosomes, and cell insertion.
The 5D memory crystal has been stored in the Memory of Mankind archive, a special time capsule within a salt cave in Hallstatt, Austria. This technology can store up to 360 terabytes of information and was awarded the Guinness World Record for the most durable data storage material in 2014.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/dna-stored-on-crystal-could-bring-back-humanity-billions-of-years-after-extinction-13217533