- Updated: February 20, 2026
- 2 min read
Microsoft Unveils 10,000‑Year Glass Data Storage – A New Era of Long‑Term Archiving
Microsoft Unveils 10,000‑Year Glass Data Storage – A New Era of Long‑Term Archiving
Microsoft Research’s Project Silica has demonstrated a glass‑based archival storage medium that can preserve data for up to ten millennia. The technology writes information as microscopic voxels inside a quartz glass slab using femtosecond laser pulses, achieving densities of around 4.8 TB per 12 cm × 12 cm × 0.2 cm pane.
How the glass medium works
Two encoding methods are used: birefringence, which changes the crystal orientation, and refractive index modulation, which alters how light passes through the voxel. Reading the data relies on phase‑contrast microscopy combined with AI‑driven image reconstruction, allowing error‑corrected retrieval of the stored bits.
Performance and durability
Tests show the glass can survive extreme temperatures, radiation, and mechanical stress, suggesting a lifespan well beyond the 10,000‑year target. The medium is also resistant to magnetic fields and electromagnetic interference, making it a compelling alternative to magnetic tape and hard‑disk archives.
Potential applications
Microsoft envisions the technology for cultural heritage preservation, governmental records, and large‑scale scientific datasets. The company plans to scale production and integrate the glass slabs into existing data‑center workflows, with an eye toward cost‑effective, ultra‑long‑term storage.
For more on long‑term storage strategies, read our guide to durable data archiving and stay updated with the latest UBOS tech news.