Scientists invent memory storage good for a billion years

By

Scientists are reporting successful tests of a new memory device that could allow terabytes of data to be stored without corruption for millions of years.


The device is an iron nanoparticle, 1/50,000 the width of a human hair, enclosed in a hollow carbon nanotube.

The iron can be shuttled back and forth within the tube as an effective way to store data.

The team says it is achievable to build storage devices capable of carrying a terabyte of information per square inch, making it more effective than current techniques.

However, the data will also be almost incorruptible and should remain available for a billion years or more.

Current memory technologies are nowhere near as long lasting. Conventional flash memory usually fails after around three to five years.

As an example Alex Zettl, one of the team behind the invention, notes that the Doomsday Book written on vellum has so far lasted over 900 years, whereas the digital version of the book, encoded in 1986, failed in less than 20 years.

Details of the device will be published in scientific journal Nano Letters later this month.
Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.
Copyright ©v3.co.uk
Tags:

Most Read Articles

Apple loses bid to dismiss US smartphone monopoly case

Apple loses bid to dismiss US smartphone monopoly case

NSW seeks to build unhackable netbook network

NSW seeks to build unhackable netbook network

Victoria's first government tech chief steps down

Victoria's first government tech chief steps down

WA Police Force to spend $30.8m on IT 'optimisation'

WA Police Force to spend $30.8m on IT 'optimisation'

Log In

  |  Forgot your password?