Chinese researchers have proposed a new information storage method that could revolutionize data archiving. They propose using synthetic DNA-based magnetic tape cartridges as an alternative to traditional magnetic media.
This storage medium has the potential to store vast amounts of data for centuries. Developed by a team at the Southern University of Science and Technology in China, the scientists printed barcodes onto polyester nylon strips and placed DNA molecules between them.
These strips serve as both separators and address information, making it easier to find the desired fragment. To protect the information, a coating based on a framework compound is used to prevent DNA degradation.
A kilometer-long DNA tape could store up to 362 petabytes of information. By comparison, a standard compact magnetic tape can only hold about 12 songs per side, while a DNA tape of the same length could store over 3 billion songs, each containing 10MB of data.
