Billion Year Storage Media

Thorfinn.au writes "Even though the data density of digital information storage has increased tremendously over the last few decades, the data longevity is limited to only a few decades. If we want to preserve anything about the human race which can outlast the human race itself, we require a data storage medium designed to last for 1 million to 1 billion years. In this paper a medium is investigated consisting of tungsten encapsulated by silicon nitride which, according to elevated temperature tests, will last for well over the suggested time."

Comments

Nice atomic structure

[nospam007]

But as we know, you can't trust atoms.
They make up everything.

Re:Nice atomic structure

[Crudely_Indecent]

That's like asking how many insane asylums are in a crazy person...

Wow!

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow, a slashdot article with a straight-up link to the paper. No multi page article with embedded flash ads, no 'science journalism' minced down through a chain of successively dumber news outlets, no PR bullshit. Just the paper.

Submitter, I'm impressed.

Re:Wow!

[GodfatherofSoul]

Wow, a Slashdot poster who reads the articles! No hyperbolic responses to the headlines. No uninformed, youthful arrogant criticisms. No misinterpretation of the summary that makes the whole post irrelevant.

Poster, I'm impressed. Oh wait, you're an AC. FU!

The authors don't trust their own invention

[Laxator2]

The authors describe a medium that will hold information for 1million to 1 billion years, yet they publish their results on PAPER!
Either they don't trust their own material will last as long as good old paper or they expect irrelevance to do its work faster than wear and tear.
Otherwise, they would publish a "tungsten encapsulated by silicon nitride", not a "paper".

Re:what about the data format?

[Anonymous Coward]

Make it GPL, then the aliens will not only maintain it, but will have to contribute back.

Just tell my wife

[ainkor]

Works especially well if it's something that pisses her off.