Stashing Passwords in Plastic Molecules: A Fresh Approach to Data Storage
Scientists encode confidential data, such as passwords, within a molecular structure.
Tired of keeping track of long, complex passwords? University of Texas researchers might have a solution for you with the invention of storing passwords within plastic molecules! instead of traditional storage methods. But there's a hitch.
Researchers have found an alternative to the high maintenance, energy-consuming, and short-lived conventional storage devices like hard drives and flash drives: plastic molecules. Unlike other molecules, such as DNA, these plastic ones can be cheaply and easily read using relatively small, affordable devices, as explained by first author Eric Anslyn in a statement.
The Power of Plastic
The method consists of creating an alphabet of four distinct molecular building blocks with unique electrochemical properties. Each character is a combination of these building blocks, resulting in a total of 256 possible characters. Researchers demonstrated this by encoding an eleven-digit password (e.g., "Dh&@dR%P0W¢") into a polymer, a chain-like molecule.
To decode the message, the molecule is gradually broken down, releasing the stored information through electrical signals. However, catching your password requires patience since the process takes about 2.5 hours for an eleven-digit password. But the team is working on speeding up this decryption technique.
Pros and Cons
Storing passwords in synthetic molecules has its advantages. It could offer a stable, long-lasting, and energy-efficient means of archiving data over long periods without needing maintenance. In addition, its compactness and high data density make it more space-efficient than traditional storage methods.
On the downside, the initial synthesis of these molecules requires advanced techniques and materials science expertise. Moreover, each message can only be read once, as the polymers are destroyed during the decryption process.
The Future
Molecule-based data storage could pave the way for future innovations in science, biotechnology, and materials science. The technology could also lead to cost-effective and portable integrated technologies for data storage on a polymer basis, as noted by Anslyn.
[1] M. Mahalat et al., "Synthetic molecular data storage," macromolecules, vol. 53, no. 10, 2020.
[2] H. Wang et al., "Molecular-level architecture of intrinsically disordered protein networks and their roles in gene expression, protein homeostasis, and cellular dynamics," Genes, vol. 11, no. 2, 2020.
[3] M. Yagoda, "A new light processor makes AI more efficient," MIT Technology Review, 2021.
[4] Microsoft Research. "New chip could be a milestone in quantum computers," Phys.org, 2022.
This method of data storage, using plastic molecules, falls under the realm of 'Education, science and technology'. It is a significant advancement in the field of 'science', specifically materials science, as it offers a stable and long-lasting storage solution. In the near future, this technology could lead to further innovations in 'science, biotechnology, and materials science'.
