The ‘cloud’ requires heaps of energy to stay aloft. Could synthetic DNA be the answer?

The information age has a data storage problem, and the ‘cloud’ – which is, in reality, a collection of massive data storage centres with enormous carbon footprints – likely isn’t a viable long-term solution. Created in collaboration with Université Côte d’Azur and France’s National Centre for Scientific Research, this video from the YouTube channel ScienceClic highlights how the extraordinary efficiency of DNA might hint at an exponentially more efficient, sustainable way forward. The fascinating explainer details how this type of storage, which has existed at a small scale since 2013, could potentially be scaled up to operate worldwide. It also offers an assessment of both the promise and potential pitfalls of adapting such a system for large-scale data storage, and a brief look into some of the ongoing efforts to improve the technology.