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Technology · 5 March 2026

Microsoft’s Glass Breakthrough Could Preserve Human Data for 10,000 Years

Microsoft’s Glass Breakthrough Could Preserve Human Data for 10,000 Years

Microsoft researchers say a new storage method could preserve digital data for thousands of years by encoding it into glass using ultra-fast lasers. The technology, part of Project Silica, writes microscopic structures called voxels inside thin glass plates, storing information in hundreds of layers. A small piece of glass can hold several terabytes of data while resisting heat, water and dust. Scientists believe the method could keep archives intact for over 10,000 years, offering a long-term solution for preserving humanity’s digital history.

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