Microsoft team creates ‘revolutionary’ data-storage system that lasts for millennia
Summary
Microsoft researchers demonstrate a glass-based data storage system that can store 4.8 TB in a coaster-sized borosilicate glass using laser-induced nano explosions; the readout uses a microscope and claims potential readability for up to 10,000 years with minimal maintenance, offering near-permanent archival storage. The article notes practical limitations, such as the need for specialized write/read hardware and current costs, but suggests a potential shift in long-term data preservation.