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In a new development, researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China have achieved a significant breakthrough in data storage. Their new diamond-based storage technology has the potential to preserve vast amounts of information for millions of years, unlocking the possibility of storing humanity’s legacy for future generations.
According to Interesting Engineering, the team set a new record for storage density, achieving 1.85 terabytes per cubic centimeter, and believe their system can maintain data for millions of years. This is thanks to a novel approach that encodes information directly within the diamond’s atomic structure. By using the diamond’s fluorescent vacancy centers—tiny, carefully placed “vacancies” or empty spaces in the crystal lattice—the team has created an incredibly robust and long-lasting storage medium.
Unlike traditional data storage methods such as USB drives, which struggle with the ever-growing demand for space, this diamond-based system offers a density 2,000 times greater than a standard CD. The researchers created the system by firing ultrafast laser pulses at small diamond slivers, displacing carbon atoms and creating vacancies that serve as storage units. The density of these vacancies determines the data’s brightness, and by controlling the pattern, the researchers can encode digital information, according to New Scientist.
To demonstrate the potential of their technology, the team successfully encoded a famous sequence of photographs by Eadweard Muybridge, achieving an accuracy rate of 99% when retrieving the data. The system’s readout capabilities also exceed 99% accuracy, showing promising potential for future digital storage needs.
Though the technology is still far from commercially viable due to the high cost of the equipment required, the researchers are optimistic that continued advancements will make it more affordable. This breakthrough could be especially useful for organizations like government agencies, research institutions, and libraries, who deal with invaluable historical and scientific data and need long-term preservation solutions.
