DNA Cassette Tape: Retro Tech Meets Gigantic Storage

Researchers have created a DNA cassette tape, leveraging the familiar form factor of retro cassette tapes but with a revolutionary twist: DNA data storage. This 100-meter tape boasts an incredible 36 petabytes of storage capacity—equivalent to 36,000 terabyte hard drives—by encoding digital information in the sequence of DNA bases. A barcode system simplifies data retrieval, while a protective zeolitic imidazolate coating ensures long-term data preservation for centuries. Despite its nostalgic appearance, it's incompatible with traditional cassette players; this is DNA storage, not magnetic.