Every day, we’re creating data, without even trying. Voice notes from your friends, screenshots, smartwatch tracking your steps, mail inboxes growing by the hour - the list is endless. Now imagine the same thing multiplied across 8 billion people across the planet. The result? A digital flood.
International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates that the collective sum of the world’s data will grow to a staggering 175 zettabytes, equivalent to 175 trillion gigabytes (GBs), by the end of 2025, a figure so large that it's nearly impossible to visualize.
But with this explosive growth comes one critical question: “Where will we store it all?” With data being created at an unprecedented rate, conventional storage methods are struggling to keep up. But what if there was a different way? One inspired by nature itself. Scientists are examining something radically different, such as DNA, after all, it's a life's blueprint in a few microscopic strands.
Let’s explore how this amazing idea works, who’s making it happen, and why the future of storing data might be a lot more exciting than we ever imagined.
The Challenge – Data Storage in the Digital Age
Traditional data storage options were designed for a time when “big data” meant something very different from today’s zettabyte-scale demands. Some of its limitations include:
- Short lifespans: Conventional hard drives typically last 3 to 5 years, and magnetic tapes do for about a decade. That means constant upgrades, migration risks, and loss potential.
- High energy usage: We know of the phrase “data is the new oil,” but unlike oil, we often think of data as having no physical form, therefore no environmental impact. This couldn’t be more mistaken, for some data centers alone now consume over 200 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually. That’s more than the energy usage of countries like Argentina or the Netherlands.
- Expansive scale: Big data centers used by tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft often exceed 100,000 square feet of servers working 24/7 to process and store our digital footprint.
- Environmental toll: Manufacturing storage hardware consumes rare-earth elements, uses water for cooling, and generates alarming amounts of e-waste as well.
DNA & Synthetic Polymers – A New Alternative
Nature already seems to have the perfect answer to our data storage crisis. Think about it, DNA has stored life’s instructions and blueprint for over 3 billion years. Scientists are now ideating on using this natural molecule to store digital data.
In fact, just one gram of DNA, theoretically, can hold up to 215 petabytes. To put it into perspective, that’s like storing over 20 million HD movies in something smaller than a sugar cube. It needs no power to preserve it, which is an added benefit. This isn’t just a theory we’re talking about.
- Researchers have successfully encoded all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets, 52 pages of Mozart’s music, and even an episode of the Netflix show “Biohackers” into microscopic quantities of DNA.
- Companies like Catalog have taken full-color images and encoded them into DNA, turning pictures into tiny molecules. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Twist Bioscience are building systems that could scale this up, aiming to store huge amounts of data in just a few grams of DNA.
- Then there’s Helixworks, which stored actual Rainbow Six Siege game data in an actual energy drink. Yes, you could now drink data! Their project, "The Future Tastes Weird," combined biotechnology and digital art to illustrate just how strange this future of molecular data storage could be.
How It Works – Science Behind Molecular Storage
Molecular data storage utilizes tiny building blocks, such as DNA or synthetic polymers, to store information. Here’s the basic idea:
Encoding: Converting 0s & 1s to A, T, C & G
Any digital data is made up of binary code - 0s and 1s. To store this in DNA, scientists use a conversion algorithm that translates the binary data into the four DNA building blocks: A (adenine), T (thymine), C (cytosine), and G (guanine). For example, "00" could be A, "01" could be T, and so on. This turns your file into a string of genetic code.
Synthesis: Creating DNA in the Lab
Now that we have a DNA-based version of the data, it’s time to physically create those DNA strands in a lab. This is accomplished through a process called DNA synthesis, where scientists utilize machines to construct the DNA molecule from scratch. No living cells are involved, but these are just tiny, artificial strings of DNA that carry all the digital data.
Storage: Preserving the DNA Data
After this process, the newly created strands don’t need power or the internet to remain stable. They can easily be kept in small vials at room temperature in the right conditions, where they can last hundreds, maybe even thousands of years.
Retrieval: Decoding the Sequence
When you want to retrieve the data back, special DNA sequencing tools read the A–T–C–G code, just like scientists did when decoding genes. The data is then converted back into the original digital file using the same algorithm. In short, molecular storage saves data as DNA, keeping it safe and readable for centuries.
Market Outlook & Growth Projections
Despite its potential, molecular data storage currently faces several hurdles. The primary limitation is that the processes involved in writing (DNA synthesis) and reading (sequencing) data are relatively slow and costly, which limits their widespread adoption. However, ongoing technological advances and automation are steadily improving both speed and cost-efficiency, making the technology increasingly viable.
Experts believe that within the next 5 to 10 years, DNA data storage will move beyond research labs and begin to find its way into specialized commercial applications. As of 2024, its market value was estimated at USD 76 million and is projected to reach USD 3,348 million by the end of 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of a whopping 87.7%. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness a CAGR of over 85% during the forecast period, all thanks to significant R&D investments.
Potential Applications
- Archival Storage: DNA’s durability and high data density make it an ideal medium for the long-term preservation of critical information, such as medical records, surveillance footage, legal documents, and cultural archives.
- Green Data Centers: DNA could fundamentally reshape the architecture of data centers by massively reducing physical space requirements and even energy consumption, thereby contributing to more sustainable data management.
- Consumer Products: We are already seeing innovations like encoding books, artworks, and digital media into DNA; in the future, this could offer new possibilities for how we store and interact with data.
Scimplify – Shaping the Molecules for Tomorrow
At Scimplify, we are an integrated contract research, development, and manufacturing organization that helps innovators and businesses bring advanced chemical solutions from concept to market. We specialize in custom chemical synthesis, process development, and scalable manufacturing across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, and advanced materials.
As molecular data storage evolves, the ability to design and manufacture precise, high-purity molecules will become ever more important. At Scimplify, we are actively aiming to contribute to this future. With a network of over 200 manufacturing partners, an in-house R&D team of 40+ scientists, and a commitment to sustainability and innovation, we are dedicated to contributing to the broader ecosystem that is shaping the future of data storage.
For collaboration opportunities, get in touch with us at info@scimplify.com!
