Scientists Create 5D Glass Disc Stores 360TB of Data That Could Last Billions of Years

Researchers at the University of Southampton have developed a 5D glass disc capable of storing an astonishing 360 terabytes (TB) of data — roughly 100,000 times the capacity of a standard DVD. This breakthrough technology is designed to endure for billions of years, even under extreme conditions such as intense heat and radiation, making it one of the most durable and high-capacity storage solutions ever created.

The disc uses ultrafast femtosecond lasers to inscribe nanoscale structures into fused silica glass, encoding data across five dimensions. These include the three spatial coordinates (x, y, z) along with two optical properties — light polarization and intensity. This multi-dimensional encoding allows an extraordinarily dense packing of information, enabling the storage of entire libraries, government archives, and scientific datasets in a device no larger than a standard disc.

Scientists have tested the 5D disc under extreme conditions to assess its durability. It remained fully functional at temperatures as high as 1,000°C and under intense radiation, confirming that the information remains intact without any degradation. The technology promises to create permanent digital archives, potentially outlasting civilizations, and providing a unique solution for preserving humanity’s most important cultural, historical, and scientific records.

The potential applications of this innovation are vast. In archival preservation, governments and institutions could store critical documents and cultural artifacts safely for millennia. In science and astronomy, massive datasets from climate research, space missions, and genomic studies could be preserved without fear of data loss. Researchers envision a future where knowledge and civilization’s collective achievements can be stored securely for billions of years, immune to the limitations of conventional magnetic or solid-state storage devices.

This 5D glass disc represents a major leap in both materials science and data storage technology. By combining ultrafast laser writing with the durability of fused silica glass, the University of Southampton has created a storage medium that is not only enormous in capacity but also virtually indestructible. It opens the door to a new era of permanent, high-density storage, ensuring that critical knowledge can survive for the far future.