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A research team from Hitachi's Information Systems division has successfully developed a revolutionary storage medium made entirely of glass. This innovation boasts the remarkable ability to store digital data for centuries—or even millions of years without degradation or damage. As reported by the French news agency AFP, this breakthrough presents a radical solution to the issue of the limited lifespan of traditional storage disks.
The new storage technology is made from transparent, thin quartz glass, which exhibits exceptional resistance to high temperatures and water. It can withstand temperatures as high as 1000°C for up to two hours without any data loss. Additionally, it is fully resistant to chemicals and radio waves, making it ideal for storing data in extreme conditions, including natural disasters such as tsunamis.
According to Kazuyoshi Tori, a researcher at Hitachi's lab, this glass-based memory is aimed at large corporations and government agencies that need to store vast amounts of sensitive and historical data over extended periods. He emphasized that traditional storage media, such as CDs and hard drives, suffer from limited lifespans, which makes this new technology the best option for preserving valuable data for future generations.
Two models of this glass memory have been developed. The first measures 2mm thick and 2x2 cm in size, containing four layers for data storage. The second model measures 2.54x2.54 cm and offers a storage capacity of 40 megabytes per square inch, surpassing the typical capacity of traditional CDs. The storage capacity can be expanded by adding more layers.
Takao Watanabe, another researcher involved in the project, stated, "We are confident that this glass memory can preserve data for an extraordinarily long time, as long as the glass itself remains intact." The technology relies on the hardness of quartz glass, known for its resistance to breaking and shattering, making it the ideal choice for long-term use. With this innovation, Hitachi is redefining the concept of data storage, offering a durable and sustainable solution that could transform the way we think about preserving digital information for future generations.