- The proof of concept sees half a MB of data compressed into a steel capsule that looks like a sphere
- As expected, you cannot read the book like a regular paperback
- DNA storage is still firmly a futuristic concept
DNA storage allows billions of terabytes of data to be stored in an incredibly compact form that can last for 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 seeing regular breakthroughs, there is still a long way to go before DNA storage hits the mainstream, and we are still waiting for the big 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 were revealed by the DNA Data Storage Alliance in late 2024.
In the latest milestone, DNA-based digital data storage company CATALOG, founded in 2016 by MIT researchers, has delivered the first commercially available book encoded in DNA.
A bit hard to read
Look at
The book, created in collaboration with Asimov Press and available for $65, contains nine essays and three works of science fiction from a range of authors, including Alex Telford, Richard Ngo and Tom Ireland. Each copy comes in the form of a steel DNA capsule that holds approximately half a megabyte of data and looks like a sphere.
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 inert gas, protecting them from moisture and oxygen to ensure long-term preservation. It goes without saying that you can’t actually read the content.
“Delivering 1,000 copies of this latest Asimov book encoded in DNA is an important milestone as we commercialize our DNA storage and computation technology,” said Hyunjun Park, co-founder and CEO of CATALOG. “Our DNA Computing platform – which uses very little energy – is quickly becoming an attractive option as new workloads, including artificial intelligence, 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.
