Cerabyte offers to store up to 10,000 TB of data on ceramic media that will last for 5,000 years

The German company Cerabyte has tested a prototype of its own system for storing data on ceramic media. Perhaps in 2030, such storage systems will become mainstream, making HDDs and SSDs, at least in data centers, a relic of the past, writes Techradar.

Cerabyte offers to record up to 10,000 TB of data on ceramic media made of micro-layers of hard glass, such as Gorilla Glass and Corning, and micro-layers of ceramic. During writing, laser beams burn micro-patterns like QR codes measuring 25 micrometers on the ceramic. When reading, the lasers read the code, which is recognized by the system.

The recording is performed using ultra-short femtosecond (10 to 15 seconds) lasers. One pulse records 2,000,000 bits of information. The recording plates are planned to be stored in robotic storages in standard 19-inch modules.

The main feature of Cerabyte’s storage systems is the operating temperature range from -273°C to +300°C, and immunity to erosive and acidic atmospheres, radiation, and electromagnetic effects. Theoretically, such ceramic media can serve for up to 5,000 years, which is why Cerabyte constantly compares them to Babylonian clay tablets, the most durable storage media known to mankind.

As you can see, Cerabyte’s solution is primarily designed to store large amounts of data that do not change for a long time, i.e. it is not for everyday use, but humanity has enough data that requires such storage. Again, this is something that aliens will have something to study if human civilization dies.