Scientists in the United Kingdom have stored the entire human genome on a “5D memory crystal,” in the hope that it could be used in the future as a blueprint to bring humanity back from extinction.

For now, the human genome-encoded “5D memory crystal” is stored in the Memory of Mankind archive, a time capsule project located within the world’s oldest salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria. If all goes as planned, it will remain until potentially needed—hopefully never.

Researchers in the UK have stored the complete human genome on a "5D memory crystal," potentially preserving it for billions of years. This advanced technology could one day serve as a backup to revive humanity or endangered species.

Scientists have created "a form of information immortality" meant to instruct future species on how to recreate humans. But who, or what, will find it?

5D memory crystal is not really crystal. "It's silica glass," Kazansky said. "It's not like the glass in windows. It's similar to what's used in fiber. It's very pure silica, and it's very durable." It's tougher even than tardigrades. The fused silica can withstand temperatures of up to 1000°C, force up to 10 tons per cm 2, and cosmic radiation.

University of Southampton scientists have stored the full human genome on a 5D memory crystal—a revolutionary data storage format that can survive for billions of years.

Unlike other data storage formats that degrade over time, 5D memory crystals can store up to 360 terabytes of information even at high temperatures.

The entire human genome – all 3 billion or so base pairs – has been stored on a tiny, 5D memory crystal built to last for billions of years. In theory, should humans go extinct, this little chip could provide a blueprint to bring us back – providing the technology to do so has materialized by then.