The idea of the extinction of humanity has long been discussed in science and fantasy circles, but now this scenario can become a reality not only in millions, but also in thousands of years. However, scientists are already working on methods that will allow humanity to be revived even after complete extinction. Edition of the Daily Mail informs, that a new breakthrough in this field is connected with the so-called “5D memory crystals”.
A group of researchers from the University of Southampton managed to preserve the human genome on a crystal that will be stored in the “Memory of Humanity” archive, located in a salt cave in Hallstatt, Austria. According to scientists, these crystals are capable of storing data for billions of years without being affected by time or extreme conditions such as high temperatures or cosmic radiation. Their capacity is up to 360 terabytes, and temperature resistance reaches 1000°C. This makes them an ideal repository for the preservation of human heritage.
In 2014, 5D crystals were listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most reliable data storage format. They are superior to traditional methods, which degrade over time, and ensure long-term preservation of information. The team, led by Professor Peter Kazansky, used ultrafast lasers to write information into nanostructured cavities inside silicon crystals. Thanks to this, they were able to encode not only the human genome, but also the structures of molecules that may be useful for future researchers.
Professor Kazansky noted that the work on creating an “eternal repository of genomic information” was inspired by the research of Dr. Craig Venter, who in 2010 created the first synthetic bacterium. This showed that even complex living organisms can be reproduced in laboratory conditions. Scientists believe that the preservation of the genomes of various species on 5D crystals opens up opportunities for the future reproduction of not only people, but also plants and animals.
A “visual key” containing the universal elements hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen, as well as the basic structure of the DNA molecule, was also applied to the crystal. This will allow those who find this crystal in the future to decipher the data and understand how to use it to reproduce living organisms.
This technology offers hope that even in the event of a global catastrophe, humanity will have a chance to be reborn and continue its history using memory crystals that will preserve our genetic heritage for billions of years.
