Chinese scientists have created a "DNA cassette tape" to store huge amounts of data for thousands of years
Researchers have developed an experimental "DNA cassette tape" to solve the global data storage crisis, as data creation outpaces storage capacity.
As Interesting Engineering reports, this technology uses the high density of DNA to store vast amounts of data in a tiny, long-lasting format.
"DNA cassette tape provides a strategy for fast, compact, large-scale DNA-based cold or warm data storage," researchers from the Southern University of Science and Technology of China wrote in a paper in Science Advances on September 10.
This approach offers a potential alternative to standard servers and hard drives. It is noted that the DNA of a human cell can theoretically store 3.2 gigabytes of data, which is equivalent to 6,000 books, 1,000 songs or two movies.
A new study suggests a solution that borrows a nostalgic idea from the 80s and 90s: a DNA cassette tape that stores data in the same way that old audio cassettes store music.
The physical tape was reportedly designed from a blend of polyester and nylon. Barcode patterns were then printed on its surface, creating millions of tiny, addressable sections — like individual folders on a computer. This innovative design could allow you to quickly find exactly the data you need.
Digital data is converted into a DNA sequence (using the bases A, C, G, and T as a code) and then stored on tape. The DNA code works similarly to the binary code of a computer. A protective crystalline layer is applied to the tape to prevent degradation. This ensures that the DNA can be stored for hundreds and thousands of years without electricity.
The publication also noted that the team of scientists successfully demonstrated the system's ability to quickly store and retrieve digital images, proving its functionality for rapid storage of large-scale data.
According to Popular Science, a single 328-foot cassette of DNA could hold over 3 billion songs, far exceeding the capacity of a traditional cassette tape.
The prototype device is expected to hold "36 petabytes" of data — equivalent to the capacity of "36,000 hard drives." If successful, the "DNA cassette" technology could provide a scalable solution for data centers, offering a more efficient and sustainable way to store huge amounts of data without significant energy consumption.
As we wrote earlier, 45.6% of the world's data centers are located in the USA. In 2030, they will consume 8% of the country's electricity. According to Statista data as of March 2024, there are 11,800 data centers operating in the world, most of which, 45.6%, are in the USA. The second and third places are significantly behind, with Germany and the UK each accounting for only 4.4% of the world's "park" of data centers. Statista counted only 58 data centers in Ukraine, but our country is in a fairly high 25th place in the world.
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