Long-Time Data Storage: Relevant Time Scales

Abstract

Dynamic processes relevant for long-time storage of information about human kind are discussed, ranging from biological and geological processes to the lifecycle of stars and the expansion of the universe. Major results are that life will end ultimately and the remaining time that the earth is habitable for complex life is about half a billion years. A system retrieved within the next million years will be read by beings very closely related to Homo sapiens. During this time the surface of the earth will change making it risky to place a small number of large memory systems on earth; the option to place it on the moon might be more favorable. For much longer timescales both options do not seem feasible because of geological processes on the earth and the flux of small meteorites to the moon.

Energy barriers in patterned media

“…The required lifetime of such a medium should be 1 million up to 1 billion years (Elwenspoek, 2011) and likely needs to be specifically designed for this purpose. Here the energy barrier should not be low enough to ensure a high data density which lasts for 10 years, but foremost high enough to last for at least a million years without severe loss of data.…”

“…This condition is most likely met. Other causes of data loss, such as theft, meteor impact or the sun entering the red giant phase (Elwenspoek, 2011) cannot be revealed by accelerated ageing (fortunately).…”

“…We believe that the relevant storage time should be at least 1 million years and at most 1 billion years (Elwenspoek, 2011).…”

“…At some point humanity as we know it will cease to exist (Elwenspoek, 2011) and slowly all our achievements will disappear. Given sufficient time, all memory of humanity will be erased.…”