Can Blockchains Become Immortal?
Modern technology raises the possibility of digital records surviving beyond human civilization. Could a blockchain last for millions of years without any external power source? How can crucial data be safeguarded without an active network? Our article delves into these questions, alongside the ethical dilemmas they present.
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Despite its decentralized nature, blockchain is not completely autonomous. Theoretically, a global catastrophe that leads to a prolonged power outage could threaten its operation. Since perpetual motion machines haven't been invented, even if individual nodes have backup power sources, a complete absence of energy on the planet would eventually stop the entire network's function.
Therefore, humanity faces several challenges:
- Identifying materials best suited for long-term storage of digital information.
- Finding economic models that can sustain such storage systems.
- Assessing all ethical aspects associated with creating immortal blockchains.
What is long-term data storage?
Long-term data storage is a technology that allows information to be preserved for an extended period without the need for ongoing maintenance or electrical power. This may involve specialized archives where data is written onto durable media, or even natural materials capable of indefinitely retaining information.
Combining blockchain technology with methods of long-term data storage could theoretically provide digital records with perpetual endurance. Imagine if each blockchain block were not only stored digitally but also on a material robust enough to last for thousands of years. Even if humanity were to vanish, this information would remain accessible to future civilizations.
We already possess technologies capable of such long-term data preservation, such as creating extensive DNA storage systems.
What is DNA-based digital information storage?
These are akin to artificial fossils that store encoded information within DNA sequences, capable of holding vast amounts of data.
The journey began in 1993 when scientists first decoded the entire human genome—the sequences of nucleotides within DNA. The Human Genome Project laid the foundation for further research.
The initial steps toward digital storage using DNA were made in the early 2000s, with scientists experimenting with encoding digital data (text, images, video) into DNA sequences. The first prototypes of systems that could encode and subsequently retrieve data from DNA were developed. In 2013, scientists successfully stored a digitized speech by Martin Luther King in DNA and retrieved it with perfect accuracy.
This initiated the era of encoding and decoding binary data into synthetic DNA strands. With breakthroughs in technology reducing the costs of DNA synthesis and sequencing, scientists have been able to store increasing amounts of data on smaller DNA fragments, making it conceivable to transfer blockchain data into an artificially synthesized genome.
Why is decentralized data storage seen as promising? There are several compelling reasons to support this technology:
- High Storage Density
A single gram of DNA can store a vast amount of information, for instance, the entire Bitcoin blockchain data.
- Durability
Molecular registers are resilient against high temperatures, radiation, and other detrimental environmental impacts.
- Miniaturization
DNA molecules are incredibly small, enabling the storage of large data volumes within a compact space.
Ceramic Nano Memory
The German company, Cerabyte, has developed a technology that records data on ceramic plates resistant to high temperatures, radiation, and corrosion. The creators guarantee that the data will remain unchanged and undamaged for at least 100 years, though practical experience might extend this estimate significantly.
Cerabyte engineers assert that it is feasible to replicate a blockchain and encode it onto a durable medium, potentially allowing for the restoration of the network in the future if necessary.
To safeguard intellectual property, the precise method of data inscription onto ceramic plates is kept confidential. Nonetheless, the technology likely involves altering the microscopic structure of the ceramic.
Benefits of this approach include:
- Data Immortality
Encasing ceramic plates in highly robust, hermetically sealed containers virtually guarantees their perpetuity. This assertion is supported by the pristine condition of artifacts found in Egyptian pharaohs' tombs.
- Resistance to External Factors
Data is shielded from physical damage, extreme temperatures, and other adverse conditions.
- Historical Preservation
Future generations will have the opportunity to explore and understand our civilization and its technologies.
Ethical Considerations
The creation of artifacts designed to preserve blockchain information for future generations introduces several significant ethical dilemmas.
For instance:
- How can we proactively ensure that everyone has equal access to this information, regardless of their social status, geographical location, or economic means?
- What kind of legacy are we leaving for future generations by preserving blockchain information? Are we inadvertently creating additional challenges for them? Might we be encouraging our descendants to repeat our historical errors by presenting them with our pre-established behavioral models and technological solutions?
- Indeed, the development of immortal blockchains could enable us to pass on our knowledge and accomplishments to those who may restart the cycle of evolution if we vanish. However, this necessitates a thoughtful approach to how this information is recorded and its relevance.
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