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As each decade passes, data storage only continues to evolve. The amount of data produced and consumed in this era is progressing at an alarming rate. As this increase continues, so does the need for dependable and plentiful data storage devices.

Researchers Yaniv Erlich and Dina Zielinski are pushing those DNA data storage limits. These two pioneers stored six files into 72,000 DNA strands, each 200 bases long. The files included a full computer operating system, an 1895 French film, an Amazon gift card, a computer virus, and more. To retrieve the data, they used DNA sequencing technology and a software to translate the genetic code back into binary. The recovered files were error-free.

Why is this the “wave of the future”? Size and longevity for starters. With DNA being smaller than even a microchip, it can reach a density of 215 Petabytes per gram. DNA lasts for over 100 years. Imagine all the world’s data stored in a single room! It’s very possible in the not-too-distant future. These are the long-term advantages of DNA data storage.

Microsoft isn’t waiting around, as it has plans to store data on DNA within the next three years. While Microsoft's DNA storage solution will be based on chips, there's every possibility that future versions of storage could involve enzymes or bacteria engineered to carry out calculations. Welcome to the brave new world of data!