Optical disk that holds data for millions of years

By The Standard Xtra

Today’s storage devices are capable of storing large amounts of data. However, regardless of their memory sizes, the data stored can only last for about 10 years when at room temperature. This is because the devices’ magnetic energy barrier is normally low and so the stored data gets lost after some period of time.

 A researcher from the Netherlands has created a novel optical memory device which he claims can store data for up to a billion years. The device is made up of tungsten and silicon nitride, which both enable the optical device to withstand very high temperatures and to become resistant to fracture, hence improving its ability to hold data for extremely long periods of time.