Researchers developed a DNA-based data storage device, capable of retaining information for thousands of years.
In an innovative leap, scientists from the Southern University of Science and Technology in China have developed an experimental 'DNA cassette tape' to address the looming global data storage crisis. The study, published in the journal Science Advances on September 10, presents a solution that borrows a nostalgic idea from the 80s and 90s: a DNA cassette tape that stores data just like old audio tapes stored music.
The innovative design of the DNA cassette tape consists of a physical tape made from a polyester-nylon blend, with barcode patterns printed onto its surface, creating millions of tiny, addressable sections. The data is translated into a DNA sequence and then stored on the tape, working much like a computer's binary code. This technology harnesses the high density of DNA to store immense quantities of data in a tiny, durable format.
If successful, DNA cassette technology could provide a scalable solution for data centers by offering a more efficient and sustainable way to store vast amounts of data without much energy. The DNA cassette tape has a theoretical data storage capacity of 3.2 gigabytes per single human cell's DNA, equivalent to 6,000 books, 1,000 songs, or two movies.
The prototype device is expected to have 36 petabytes of data, which is the same as the storage of 36,000 hard drives. A protective crystalline layer is applied to the tape to prevent the DNA from degrading, ensuring the DNA storage can last for hundreds or even thousands of years without electricity.
Hard drives, on the other hand, are bulky, consume massive amounts of energy, and degrade over time. The DNA cassette tape could last for thousands of years, making it a potential alternative to standard servers and hard drives.
This new technology could provide a strategy for fast, compact, large-scale DNA-based cold or warm data storage. As the world drowns in data, and current storage solutions could soon hit their limits, the DNA cassette tape offers a beacon of hope for a sustainable and efficient future of data storage.
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