- The proof of concept consists of half a MB of data compressed in a steel capsule that looks like a bullet.
- As expected, you can’t read the book like a normal paperback.
- DNA storage remains a futuristic concept
DNA storage offers the ability to store billions of terabytes of data in an incredibly compact form, capable of lasting hundreds of years with minimal cost. This technology is increasingly seen as a potential way to reduce energy use, minimize physical space requirements, and improve data security. Although we are seeing regular advances, there is still a long way to go before DNA storage hits the mainstream and we are still waiting for that breakthrough.
Recent advances include a credit card-sized DNA storage device from French company Biomemory, which can hold a kilobyte of data, and the DNA Data Storage Alliance unveiled the first specifications for storing bytes in DNA late of 2024.
In the latest milestone, DNA-based digital data storage company CATALOG, founded in 2016 by MIT scientists, delivered the first commercially available book encoded in DNA.
A little difficult to read
Look
The book, created in collaboration with Asimov Press and available for $65, includes nine essays and three works of science fiction by various writers, including Alex Telford, Richard Ngo and Tom Ireland. Each copy comes in the form of a steel DNA capsule that contains about half a megabyte of data and resembles a bullet.
The Boston-based CATALOG encoded 240 pages of text, totaling 481,280 bytes, into 500,000 unique synthetic DNA molecules. These molecules are stored as a dry powder under an inert gas, protecting them from moisture and oxygen to ensure long-term preservation. Needless to say, you can’t actually read its content.
“Providing 1,000 copies of this latest Asimov book encoded in DNA is an important milestone as we commercialize our DNA computing and storage technology,” said Hyunjun Park, co-founder and CEO of CATALOG. “Our DNA computing platform – which uses very little power – is quickly becoming an attractive option as emerging workloads, including AI, require unsustainable amounts of energy to process.”
The capsule, the first commercial product encoded in DNA, is now available for pre-order at a price of $65. If you only want to read the contents of the book, you can purchase a physical copy for $30.
