Microsoft shook the computer industry: it created an indestructible crystal that could last 10,000 years

Microsoft has developed an indestructible crystal that can store data for 10,000 years.

Microsoft turns the computer industry on its head: it creates an indestructible crystal that lasts for 10,000 years

Through Project Silica, Microsoft has managed to use femtosecond lasers to record data on a borosilicate glass material.In this way, hard drives and magnetic tapes, which are standard in the computer industry and only lasted a few decades before becoming obsolete, could be completely eliminated.

This technical innovation was recently published in the journal Nature.Scientific study explains that progress allows information to remain unaltered by external factors such as heat, water or dust.Unlike previous efforts that required expensive materials, the Microsoft Research team adapted the technology to ordinary glass, the same type used in kitchenware.

This is Microsoft's indestructible glass for saving files

Indestructible glass storage represents a true paradigm shift for the computing and archival industries.Based on accelerated aging tests from official sources, the data recorded on these 2 mm thick plates retain their integrity for at least 10,000 years.

Moreover, thanks to the chemical and thermal stability of the glass, they made sure that there would be no need to transfer information every few years.Today, this process consumes enormous amounts of energy and resources, representing a rapid change in historical filing.

The key to this system is the creation of voxels, small changes in the crystal structure that serve as tiny data points.

According to Microsoft's report, they have developed two recording methods: voxel birefringence and voxel system.While the former changes the polarization of the light, the latter changes the translational correction of the object.This difference enables amazing data density, storing up to 7TB on a bed-sized platter.

How does unbreakable glass created by Microsoft work?

Silica femtosecond laser technology uses femtosecond lasers to produce rapid nanometer-scale pulsations in glass.These ultrafast pulses produce permanent, irreversible changes that are later read by a high-speed microscope.The new reader only needs one camera instead of four, reducing production costs and equipment size.data recovery.

In addition to physical stability, the system guarantees safety through a true air gap.It is physically impossible to overwrite the data during reading, because the light coming from the microscope does not have the power to change the glass.Once recorded, this "read-only" nature makes the device safe from cyber-attacks trying to change the original information.

Innovation in writing and reading

The team of researchers led by Richard Black managed to improve the writing speed using the multibeam system.By splitting the laser into several independent beams, they record multiple sounds simultaneously without thermally damaging the support.Using one pulse per voxel improves energy efficiency and process speed.

This technique allows the industry to process large volumes of information at speeds comparable to existing archiving systems, but with an infinitely longer lifespan.

Microsoft uses machine learning prototypes to decode noise and noise patterns and ensure that readings are accurate even for millions of years.In addition, by eliminating the cycle of routine replication, you reduce the carbon associated with storing large digital files.

Microsoft's indestructible glass as the future of human memory

Now the next step is to integrate borosilicate glass libraries into global data centers.The project has demonstrated its viability with milestones such as the Warner Bros. Superman film archive or the preservation of music in the Global Music Vault.

In addition, according to Science News Explores, students have also used this technology in the Golden Record 2.0 project, with which they have sent messages into space that represent the diversity of people in a format that will not degrade over time.Because it is a strong material, as explained in the article mentioned above, glass can withstand extreme conditions, even oven fires or boiling water, without losing a bit of the permanent glass preservative.