Nanoteknologi

Geniale lagringsmedier – hvordan krystaller kan redde menneskeheten

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Evoluerende datalagring

Recording data was crucial to civilization’s founding. In fact, the invention of written records defined the separation between the prehistorical and historical periods. From early cuneiform clay tablets and papyrus scrolls to medieval books and the printing press, improvements in writing methods and technology have been transformative to human societies.

I dag registrerer og håndterer vi mer data enn noen gang. Men paradoksalt nok har lagringsmediene våre blitt stadig mer skjøre. For eksempel er vi nå klar over diskrot, eller CD-rot, som er nedbrytningen av det reflekterende laget på en kompaktplate (CD). Det er sannsynlig at de fleste av disse lagringsenhetene, inkludert museumarkiver, vil bli ulæselige etter kun noen tiår. Det samme problemet påvirker andre optiske lagringsmetoder som DVD-er og Blu‑ray.

På samme måte kan harddisker være svært følsomme for elektromagnetiske bølger, så mesteparten av verdens data kan bli slettet av en tilstrekkelig sterk solstorm eller EMP.

Dermed vil, sammenlignet med manuskripter skrevet på vellum, papyrus eller leire, moderne kunnskap bare vare noen tiår eller et århundre, eller være én katastrofe unna total ødeleggelse.

Heldigvis utforsker forskere teknologier for langt mer holdbar datalagring. Og morsomt nok kan det se veldig likt ut som den typen krystall vi ser i romskip i science‑fiction‑serier.

Kilde: RPF

Krystallers holdbarhet

Most materials degrade in time, whether it be advanced engraving on silicon wafers or paper/animal skins. However, mineral crystal is one type of structure that stays remarkably stable for millennia, if not millions of years.

Dette skyldes at krystaller er svært rigidt organiserte og strukturerte på atomnivå. Det betyr at for å begynne å bryte dem, må du bryte dem på atomnivå i stedet for bare å redusere bindingene mellom store fibre eller den elektromagnetiske ladningen til et silisiumatom.

Kilde: Britannica

Dette gjør krystaller ekstremt motstandsdyktige mot skade fra varme, mikroorganismer eller elektromagnetisme.

Det er disse egenskapene som fikk Prof. Peter Kazansky ved University of Southampton til å utvikle krystallbasert datalagring. De registrerte nylig hele det menneskelige genomet i én slik krystall.

And in the long run, it might become a way to store the total sum of human knowledge for almost eternity.

“Den visuelle nøkkelen inngravert på krystallen gir oppdageren kunnskap om hvilken data som er lagret inni og hvordan den kan brukes.

Over de tette planene av data som holdes innenfor, viser nøkkelen de universelle elementene (hydrogen, oksygen, karbon og nitrogen); de fire basene i DNA‑molekylet (adenin, cytosin, guanin og tymin) med deres molekylære struktur; deres plassering i DNA‑s dobbelt‑heliks; og hvordan gener posisjonerer seg i et kromosom, som deretter kan settes inn i en celle.”

5D‑krystaller

The way they did it is by leveraging the 3D nature of crystals. They record the data in the crystal using ultra-fast lasers to precisely inscribe data into nano-structured voids within silica crystal – with feature sizes as small as 20 nanometres.

Dette går imot de fleste nåværende datalagringsmetoder, som hovedsakelig lagrer data på et 2D‑plan, enten papir, magnetbånd eller silisiumskive.

I stedet lagrer de data i alle dybdene av krystallen (3D), samt legger til et ekstra lag med datatetthet ved å legge til to optiske dimensjoner på den 3D‑romlige dimensjonen.

Birefringens

In theory, “simple” 3D data storage using the spatial position of the nanoscopic void in the crystal could be enough. However, it would require much larger crystals or limit the data volume that can be held per crystal.

So the researchers also leverage a phenomenon dubbed “birefringence”. It means that the material redirects light differently depending on the light polarization. This allows us to multiply the data storage density 8x.

By recording data with tighter focusing optics and shorter wavelength light, it is possible to achieve a spatial (3D) densification similar to that in Blu-Ray discs, involving a pit size of less than 200 nm.

Combined with the fourth and fifth dimensions provided by birefringence, which allow a single pit to store eight bits (one byte) of information as opposed to one, it would be possible to achieve an unprecedented capacity of hundreds of terabytes in a single 12cm-diameter disc.

5D Memory Crystal

Ekstrem holdbarhet

Not only this would be as dense of data storage as Blu-rays, but it would also be a lot more durable. The crystal used is equivalent to fused quartz, one of the most chemically and thermally durable materials on Earth.

It can withstand the high and low extremes of freezing, fire, and temperatures of up to 1000 °C. The crystal can also withstand a direct impact force of up to 10 tons per cm2 and is unchanged by long exposure to cosmic radiation. It is similarly unaffected by intense electric currents.

Applikasjoner

Permanent arkiv

While ultra-durable, such a data storage system is not rewritable. So we should not expect this sort of technology to be part of our computers any time soon.

Det er også sannsynligvis ikke like raskt eller enkelt å lese som optiske disker, så det gjør det til et dårlig medium i tilfelle data vi vil konsultere ofte.

Det er imidlertid det perfekte lagringsformatet for arkiver vi vil bevare uendret over en ekstremt lang periode. Så dette kan være et flott system for å lagre mange typer informasjon som ikke endres over tid og er viktige nok til å være verdt innsatsen:

  • Historiske og arkeologiske opptegnelser.
  • Litteratur, musikk og kunst generelt.
  • Vitenskapelig kunnskap, fra vitenskapshistorie til databanker om kjent matematikk, kjemi, fysikk, biologi osv.
  • Finansiell data, med slik lagring kanskje enda mer holdbar enn desentraliserte blokkjedekvinner.
  • Backup‑programmer og annen kjerne‑IT‑data.

Kategori‑forsikring

The human genome data recently recorded on the 5D crystal is going to be stored in the Memory Of Mankind archives. This is a special time capsule within a salt cave buried 2km deep in Hallstatt, Austria.

The geology of the mountain will allow the MOM archive to fully close itself by a natural phenomenon: the salt “flows” with a speed of 2 cm/year into any void. This will protect the archive from the greatest threat; man himself.

Its goal is the archiving of human memory, from testimonies and stories collected by individuals to the documentation of technology, as well as for example the locations of nuclear or toxic waste repositories.

Previously, Memory Of Mankind relied on high-tech ceramic to store text and images permanently with a goal to be readable in 1 million years. It will also contain a very extensive deciphering tool to explain our language.

A tablet of Ceramic Microfilm (20×20 cm) can carry up to 5 million characters, which equals 5×400-pages books. A book on Ceramic Microfilm requires 1/200 of the volume compared to the printed version.

Utryddet arts genetiske data

Some data can also never be restored when lost. This is true not only for human achievement but also for the natural world.

For eksempel kan genetisk data fra utdødde eller truede arter (bør) arkiveres på en så langvarig måte.

Considering the creation of a synthetic bacterium by Dr Craig Venter’s team in 2010, and the current effort to resurrect mammoths, it is not far-fetched to imagine in a few decades or centuries efforts being made to recreate from scratch such extinct species.

Dyp romutforskning

Pr. Kazansky and his team took inspiration from the Pioneer spacecraft plaques which were launched by NASA on a path to take it beyond the confines of the Solar System.

Kilde: Space.com

5D‑krystall kan brukes på lignende måte til å overføre informasjon over stjernene, med minimal eller ingen datatap. Dette ble faktisk allerede gjort, selv om det var mer som en markedsføringsgimmick, da en 5D‑krystall som inneholdt Asimovs Foundation‑trilogi ble plassert ombord på Tesla Roadster som ble sendt ut i rommet i 2018.

Noen fantasifulle tenkere vurderer til og med at dette kan være en måte for menneskeheten å utforske stjernene på selv uten raske reise‑metoder. Et skip kunne sendes med data og maskiner som trengs for å skape menneskelige embryoer «fra bunnen av», og gi fødsel til nye kolonister i fjerne stjerner.

Investering i datalagring

5D crystals are, for now, a very new technology, also being developed by the private company 5D Memory Crystal / SPhotonics, spun off from the University of Southampton. However, other companies are exploring how to make data storage technology far more resilient than our current methods.

You can invest in data storage companies through many brokers, and you can find here, on securities.io, our recommendations for the best brokers in the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, as well as many other countries.

If you are not interested in data storage companies solely, you can also look into tech ETFs like ProShares Nanotechnology ETF (TINY), Global X Cloud Computing ETF (CLOU), or Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM)which will provide a more diversified exposure to capitalize on the importance of data and IT in the modern economy.

Datlagrings‑selskaper

1. Twist Biosciences

(TWST )

The company specializes in DNA synthesis, leveraging miniaturization methods from the semiconductor industry, saving time and money for researchers.

It is also working on creating DNA-based data storage that could be used to safeguard data independent from electronic systems. So maybe advanced data storage technologies could be using DNA itself, besides crystals.

This miniaturization allows us to reduce the reaction volumes by a factor of 1,000,000 while increasing throughput by a factor of 1,000, enabling the synthesis of 9,600 genes on a single silicon chip at full scale.

In January 2023, the company started shipping products from its recently launched second manufacturing installation. The new factory should double Twist’s production capacities.

With its advanced DNA and RNA synthesis capability, Twist could quickly become a major aptamer manufacturer if the market for anti-clotting products grows.

As a “neutral” producer focused on providing the best nucleic acid sequences at the best price, it could be a manufacturing partner of choice for any pharmaceutical company looking to commercialize useful nucleic acids, like data storage or anti-clotting aptamers.

2. Pure Storage

(PSTG )

It is entirely possible that one day we rely on DNA or 5D crystal storage for safeguarding critical data. But until then, it is likely that our need for extra data storage will be through the usual silicon-based solution.

Pure Storage is a leader in the “Storage-as-a-Service” (STaaS) market. It is growing quickly (18% year-to-year) with already 12,500+ global customers (up from 9,000+ in 2022), including Meta, Comcast, Domino’s Pizza, and NASA.

Pure Storage is also supporting many AI projects from SiriusXM, AutoNation, Health Genome Center 2030, Crater Labs, etc.

The key advantage of the company is based on its FlashArray and FlashBlade technology, which is outperforming compared to hard drives, by storing the data on flash memory drives.

Its systems consume 2-5x less power and space than existing hard drive systems and are 10x more reliable.

As 1-2% of the global energy consumption comes from data centers, reducing by 80% storage-related energy consumption can have a massive impact.

Pure Storage started mostly as a hardware manufacturer but has slowly evolved into a cloud service provider with full turnkey offers.

Pure Storage will likely benefit in the upcoming years from the rise of AI combined with the need to reduce the IT industry energy consumption, as illustrated for example with the recent deal of Microsoft to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.

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Jonathan er en tidligere biochemistforsker som arbeidet med genetisk analyse og kliniske forsøk. Han er nå en aksjeanalytiker og finansforfatter med fokus på innovasjon, markedssykluser og geopolitikk i sin publikasjon The Eurasian Century.