Southampton: University’s new data-storage technology praised

Scientists at the University of Southampton have offered an enticing look into their new data-storage technology. It has been hailed as the future of data storage by the data-scanning specialists, Pearl Scan.

The technology, dubbed the “Superman memory crystal”, uses lasers and nanostructures to record up to 360 TB of data onto miniature glass disks. It could allow people to preserve data and documents for billions of years, which means the data could potentially outlive the human race.

To create these technology-defining ‘crystals', researchers use femtosecond laser writing which gives off short, intense pulses of light to inscribe information onto three layers of nanostructured dots. Each layer is separated by five micrometres, and uses self-assembling nanostructures which alter the path of light traveling through the glass. The alternation can be read using an optical microscope and a polariser.

As the technique is both safe and portable, scientists say it could be used to preserve the records of major organisations. With the modern world relying more and more on computers, preserving past documents and important pieces of information is an important part of future-proofing, for businesses and individuals alike. 

Naveed Ashraf, managing director of Pearl Scan, commented: “We have seen a multitude of developments since our inception over a decade ago, however this latest piece of technology is by far one of the most exciting.

The masterminds behind the “Superman” technology have recently used it to record historical documents including Newton's Opticks, the King James Bible, the Magna Carta and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.