In a positive advancement towards preserving the human race, scientists from the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) in England have successfully preserved the complete human genome on a 5D Memory Crystal (everlasting). The scientists believe that this blueprint will guide future generations to bring humanity back from extinction.

What makes 5D Memory Crystal so special?

5D Memory Crystal is capable of storing huge data for billions of years. The team stated that this storage format can also save the genomes of endangered species of plants and animals. According to the university's statement, 5D memory crystals can store up to 360 terabytes of data without losing any information.

5D Memory Crystal
Image Source: Physics World

“The crystal is equivalent to fused quartz, one of the most chemically and thermally durable materials on Earth,” they stated. 

Emphasising the capabilities of the 5D memory crystal, the university stated, “It can withstand the high and low extremes of freezing, fire, and temperatures of up to 1,000 Celsius. The crystal can also withstand a direct impact force of up to 10 tonnes per cm2 and is unchanged by long exposure to cosmic radiation.

Professor Peter Kazansky, along with his team, deployed ultrafast lasers to accurately load the data into the nanostructured gaps orientated within silica.

“Unlike marking only on the surface of a 2D piece of paper or magnetic tape, this method of encoding uses two optical dimensions and three spatial coordinates to write throughout the material—hence the ‘5D’ in its name,” the statement read. 

Is it enough to synthetically produce humans?

However, just the genetic information is not enough to develop synthetic humans, animals, or plants. According to Professor Kazansky, certain advancements in the sector would make the information useful.

“We know from the work of others that genetic material of simple organisms can be synthesised and used in an existing cell to create a viable living specimen in a lab. The 5D memory crystal opens up possibilities for other researchers to build an everlasting repository of genomic information from which complex organisms like plants and animals might be restored should science in the future allow,” he added. 

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