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5D optical data storage

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Example of 5D optical data storage disc for movie storage.

5D optical data storage, also known as Superman memory crystal, is a new and experimental way to save digital data. It uses a special glass and fast laser called a femtosecond laser to write information inside the glass.[1]

A disc made with this technology can store a huge amount of data. At its largest size (12 cm), one disc could hold up to 360 terabytes of data.[2][3]The data could last for billions of years, because glass is very stable and does not break down easily.[4][5]Scientists first showed that this idea works in 2013.[6][7][8]Companies like Hitachi and Microsoft have also studied glass data storage.[9][10] Microsoft’s research is called Project Silica.[11][12]

Normal storage, like paper or tape, only uses two dimensions (flat surface). 5D storage uses two optical features (how light behaves), and three spatial positions (where the data is inside the glass). The five features together are called the five dimensions, creating the name "5D data crystal".[2][13]

In 2018, Professor Peter Kazansky used this technology to store the Foundation trilogy by Isaac Asimov. The disc was sent into space inside Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster, as part of the Arch Mission Foundation project.[14][15]

In 2024, Kazansky’s team stored the entire human genome, which has three billion characters, onto a coin-sized 5D disc. It includes pictures that explain how to read it. It is now kept in the Memory of Mankind archive, deep inside a salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria.[16]

In July 2025, the company Good Old Games, working with SPhotonix, stored the video game Heroes of Might and Magic III on a 5D crystal. This was the first video game ever preserved using this technology.[17][18]

See also

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  • Data store – A place where data is collected, stored and managed for easy use.

References

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  1. ↑ ""Cristais de memória do Superman" armazenam até 360TB por 1 milhão de anos". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  2. 1 2 "Eternal 5D data storage could record the history of humankind | University of Southampton". www.southampton.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  3. ↑ Huebler, Kevin (20 February 2016). "Superman memory crystal lets you store 360 TB worth of data". CNBC.
  4. ↑ Borghino, Dario (2013-07-11). ""Superman memory crystal" could store hundreds of terabytes indefinitely". New Atlas. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  5. ↑ O'Rourke, Patrick (2025-12-15). "This futuristic 5D glass 'memory crystal' can store data for 13.8 billion years". XDA. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  6. ↑ "5D 'Superman memory' crystal could lead to unlimited lifetime data storage". University of Southampton. 9 July 2013.
  7. ↑ Zhang, Jingyu; Gecevičius, Mindaugas; Beresna, Martynas; Kazansky, Peter G. (2013). "5D Data Storage by Ultrafast Laser Nanostructuring in Glass" (PDF). CLEO: 2013 Postdeadline (PDF). doi:10.1364/CLEO_SI.2013.CTh5D.9. ISBN 978-1-55752-973-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-06.
  8. ↑ ""New nanostructured glass for imaging and recording developed"".
  9. ↑ Welch, Chris (2012-09-27). "Hitachi invents quartz glass storage capable of preserving data for millions of years". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  10. ↑ "Hitachi develops data storage that lasts 100 million years". InfoWorld. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  11. ↑ "Project Silica". Microsoft Research. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  12. ↑ Irving, Michael (2023-10-19). "Microsoft's glass data storage system saves terabytes for 10,000 years". New Atlas. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  13. ↑ "5D Optical Memory Crystal". Arch Mission Foundation - Preserving humanity forever, in space and on Earth. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  14. ↑ "SpaceX Launches Isaac Asimov's 'Foundation' Books Into Deep Space". Inverse. 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  15. ↑ Szondy, David (2018-02-13). "Tesla Roadster carries Asimov sci-fi classic to the stars". New Atlas. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  16. ↑ "Human genome stored on 'everlasting' memory crystal". www.southampton.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  17. ↑ "Heroes of Might and Magic 2, Heroes Chronicles, and a legendary crystal!". GOG.com. 2025-07-24. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  18. ↑ ""5D memory crystal" storage could last until the end of the universe". TechRadar. 2025-12-16. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
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