Summary: Researchers in China have developed a groundbreaking DNA-based cassette tape capable of storing an astonishing 36 petabytes of data—enough to hold over 3 billion songs. This innovative hybrid combines the nostalgic form of a cassette tape with the cutting-edge data density of synthetic DNA, promising a future where massive amounts of information can be stored reliably for centuries. While the technology still faces challenges like slow data retrieval and high costs, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the future of data storage.
A Revolutionary DNA-Powered Cassette Tape
A team led by Professor Xingyu Jiang at the Southern University of Science and Technology in Guangdong, China, has reinvented the classic cassette tape by integrating synthetic DNA as the storage medium. Unlike traditional cassettes that use magnetic particles on polyester strips, this new device encodes digital files onto strands of synthetic DNA embedded on a long plastic tape.
How Much Data Can It Store?
The DNA cassette boasts an impressive total capacity of 36 petabytes. To put that in perspective, a standard cassette tape could hold about 12 music tracks per side, whereas this DNA tape can store over 3 billion songs, assuming each song file is approximately 10 megabytes. The DNA strands are coated with a zeolitic imidazolate “armour” that protects the data from degradation, potentially preserving information for hundreds of years.
The Technology Behind the DNA Cassette
The cassette tape contains thousands of addressable partitions, with up to 1,570 processed every second. Storage density reaches up to 28.6 milligrams of DNA per kilometre of tape, and built-in copy redundancy ensures long-term reliability. The system includes a specialized cassette “drive” that can randomly access and manipulate data stored on the synthetic DNA. In tests, recovering an incomplete image took about 50 minutes, but the researchers anticipate that faster, next-generation sequencing tools will improve retrieval times.
Challenges and Future Prospects
While DNA offers an incredibly high theoretical storage density—up to 455 exabytes per gram—the technology currently faces hurdles such as high costs and slow data retrieval speeds. Nevertheless, this innovative experiment highlights the potential of DNA-based storage to meet the growing global demand for data capacity.
Stay updated with the latest in technology by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.