Scientists store human genome on crystal which can last billions of years

The 5D memory crystal has been inscribed with the full human genome and can last millions of years. Pictures: University of Southampton/PA

Scientists have stored the full human genome on a 5D memory crystal which they hope could provide a blueprint to bring humanity back from extinction thousands, if not millions, of years in the future.

The team from the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) also said the revolutionary data storage format that can survive for billions of years can be used to record the genomes of endangered plant and animal species that are faced with extinction.