In an innovative revival of 1960s technology, researchers have created a cassette tape that utilizes DNA for encoding information, substituting traditional iron oxide with synthetic DNA molecules printed onto plastic tape.

This groundbreaking technology boasts an astounding capacity for storing information. While conventional cassette tapes typically hold about 12 songs per side, DNA tapes can encapsulate every song ever recorded.

With a capacity of 10 megabytes per song, 100 meters of DNA cassette tape can accommodate over 3 billion songs. In total, the storage potential is a staggering 36 petabytes, equal to 36,000 terabytes of hard drive space.

Led by Jiang Xinyu and his team at Southern University of Science and Technology in Guangdong, China, these cassettes are engineered to represent digital data through the sequencing of DNA bases (A, T, C, G) much like binary code in computers. This enables the storage of various digital files, including text, images, audio, and video.

The researchers were thrilled by the public’s reaction following the announcement of the DNA cassette. New Scientist reported Jiang stating, “The diverse feedback we’ve received from scientists, artists, engineers, and educators has been rewarding, inspiring many to rethink the intersection of data, biology, and technology.”

The project team’s next objective is to create a specialized reading/writing mechanism for DNA cassettes that emulates the function of traditional magnetic tape drives. “Our new ‘head’ design will precisely align the DNA tape in a reaction chamber for chemical processes like reading and rewriting,” Jiang explains.

They anticipate that DNA cassette tapes could be available commercially within five years. “Our exploration of DNA cassette tape technology transcends mere storage capability; it encompasses a reimagining of how information exists in both physical and biological forms,” Jiang concludes.