Music

A New Storage Media That Will Last Millions of Years

Alan Cross 1 Comment

Magnetic tape starts to degrade after a decade.  It’s estimated that data on CD-Rs starts evaporating at about the same time.  It’s said that pre-recorded CDs and DVDs won’t last beyond a hundred years.  

As it stands, vinyl and microfilm seem to be the most durable storage media but even they will will crumble–if they don’t melt first.

So here’s the question:  if humankind wants to preserve data for all time, what’s the best way to do it?  

Hitachi engineers say they have an idea.  Their new technique involves etching quartz glass with a laser and read back with a microscope.  They maintain that this method will keep the data say for not hundreds, not thousands but millions of years.

Read up on everything here.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38010 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

One thought on “A New Storage Media That Will Last Millions of Years”

  • DMac
    September 30, 2012 at 7:57 pm
    Permalink

    Its either this or carved in stone like the ancient Egyptians. Come to think of it, that's pretty much what this is.

    Reply

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