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Storing Data In Synthetic Fossils

Posted by Soulskill on from the worked-for-the-dinosaurs dept.

Bismillah tips news of research from ETH Zurich which brings the possibility of extremely long-term data storage. The scientists encoded data in DNA, a young but established technique that has a major problem: accuracy. "[E]ven a short period of time presents a problem in terms of the margin of error, as mistakes occur in the writing and reading of the DNA. Over the longer term, DNA can change significantly as it reacts chemically with the environment, thus presenting an obstacle to long-term storage." To get around this issue, they encapsulated the DNA within tiny silica spheres, a process roughly comparable to the fossilization of bones (abstract). The researchers say data can be preserved this way for over a million years.

2 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. FINALLY by jeffmeden · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can this be the end to the monthly "Hey guys whats the best way to back up my mp3s and family pics, no i mean really back them up, like for YEARS" on ask slashdot? From now on when one of those submissions gets greenlit, a link to this is going to be the only reply. Are we agreed?

  2. Good Idea? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Today: "I've got this really important data, let's store it as fossilized DNA!"

    2000 years later: "Hey, I've found some fossilized DNA, let's inject it in some frog eggs and see what happens!"