- Proof of concept sees half a MB of data compressed into a steel capsule that resembles a bullet
- As expected, you cannot read the book like a normal paperback.
- DNA storage remains decidedly 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 at minimal cost. The technology is increasingly seen as a potential way to reduce energy consumption, minimize physical space requirements and improve data security. Although we are steadily seeing advances, there is still a long way to go before DNA storage becomes mainstream and we are still waiting for that breakthrough.
Recent advances include a credit card-sized DNA storage device from French company Biomemory that can hold a kilobyte of data, and the first specifications for storing bytes in DNA have been unveiled by the DNA Data Storage Alliance at the end of 2024.
In the latest milestone, DNA-based digital data storage company CATALOG, founded in 2016 by MIT scientists, has delivered the first commercially available book encoded in DNA.
A little difficult to read
Look on it
The book, created in collaboration with Asimov Press and available for $65, features nine essays and three works of science fiction from a number of writers, including Alex Telford, Richard Ngo and Tom Ireland. Each copy takes the form of a steel DNA capsule containing about half a megabyte of data and resembling 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 in dry powder form under an inert gas, protecting them from humidity and oxygen to ensure long-term preservation. Needless to say, you can’t actually read its contents.
“Providing 1,000 copies of this latest DNA-encoded Asimov book is an important step in commercializing our DNA storage and calculation 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 available for pre-order now, priced at $65. If you just want to read the contents of the book, you can purchase a physical copy for $30.
