British scientists have successfully stored the entire human genome on a 5D crystal that could last for billions of years.
A team from the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) used lasers to imprint the data onto the crystal, which is described as one of the most durable materials on Earth, capable of withstanding extreme forces, temperatures, and cosmic radiation.
The researchers, led by Professor Peter Kazansky, hope this method could preserve the genetic information of endangered species for future generations, should technological advancements allow for the recreation of organisms from stored DNA.
Photo: University of Southampton