The Science Behind Modern Data Storage

Storing the Digital Universe

With humanity generating 2.5 quintillion bytes daily, storage technologies must continuously evolve to keep pace with our data demands.

Hard drives now pack 2TB per platter using heat-assisted magnetic recording.

SSDs stack memory cells vertically, with some reaching 200+ layers.

New glass-based discs can preserve data for millennia without degradation.

Modern cartridges hold 50TB, remaining the most cost-effective cold storage.

1 gram of DNA can store 215 petabytes with perfect copy fidelity for centuries.

Using light interference patterns to store data in three dimensions.

Atomic-scale systems that could revolutionize secure data storage.

The industry faces critical issues:

Data centers now consume 2% of global electricity, doubling every 4 years.

Traditional media lose integrity over time, requiring constant migration.

Different use cases require balancing access speed, capacity, durability and cost.