Researchers Find A Way To Store Data In 'Everyday' Objects

A research team from ETH Zurich has recently discovered an innovative which possibly turns almost any objects into a data storage unit that can retrieve after thousands of years.

Living things are locked in the instruction of the DNA system that contributes to their operation as well as development. Also, data have been produced at a phenomenal rate in the technological-driven world. This mutual relationship is the driving force behind the creation of ETH Zurich researchers to save extensive information in everything evenly inanimate objects via DNA. Last month, members from the University of Alberta revealed a new storage technique relying on hydrogen gas to retrieve data. Moreover, a Microsoft internal team successfully stored Superman film on quartz glass.

But nothing comes as much of a surprise towards the intellectual as the exploration from ETH Zurich. More notably, the team collaborated with Israeli scientist Yaniv Erlich made a tremendous effort to find out whether the power of the DNA molecule could be intertwined to around objects. Finally, they nailed it and research born fruit.

Regarding the research, scientists built their innovation on two current advances in DNA storage. The initial one which was developed by Grass is a technique that allows 100-bit DNA “barcode” objects to be embedded in glass nanobeads. Another developed by Erlich likely makes it store 215.000 terabytes of data per a gram of DNA by theory.

The unbeatable combination of two advances provokes the scientists’ researching process to create the “DNA of things”. To sweeten the pot, the team printed a 3D rabbit covered by plastic. This rabbit contained the instruction of printed objects inside and it was possible to retrieve massive data. According to Grass and Erlich, the instruction can maintain for several generations.

Additionally, the researchers demonstrated that this method was expected to go viral soon due to its beneficial features. However, the price is costly roughly 2000 Swiss francs per transfer for translating a 3D printing file using this technique. Hence, the researchers need to deepen their innovation to be more budget-friendly shortly.