glass storage

Glass storage refers to Microsoft Research's Project Silica, an archival technology that uses femtosecond lasers to write data as three-dimensional voxels inside borosilicate glass. Recent developments demonstrate a full end-to-end system capable of storing terabytes on a coaster-sized plate, with longevity measured in millennia without powered maintenance. The system includes automated microscopes and machine-learning decoders for reading and validation. This approach reframes archival storage as a materials and optics problem, offering potential benefits for organizations dealing with explosive data growth and the costs of media refresh cycles. Discussions on WindowsForum cover the technical details, practical trade-offs, and implications for enterprise IT and data preservation.