How Storing Passwords in Plastic Molecules Could Change Data Security
Scientists Encrypt Passwords within a Molecular Structure
Wanna store your 11-digit password in a tiny plastic molecule? University of Texas researchers have made that possible! According to a study published in "Chem", this method could offer some significant advantages over traditional storage methods, but it also has a drawback.
Previously, it was thought that long molecules like DNA could store vast amounts of data without a power source. However, accessing this molecular data was expensive and time-consuming. But, a research team at the University of Texas found an alternative: plastic. By encoding an 11-digit password into a plastic molecule and then decoding it, they were able to unlock a computer.
Fun Fact: Molecules can store information for a very long time without energy, says co-author Praveen Pasupathy in a university statement. The team successfully wrote information into a plastic component and read it back using electrical signals, making them one step closer to storing everyday information in common materials.
A New Storage Option for the Long Run
So, why is this plastic molecule storage so exciting? Well, conventional storage devices like hard drives and flash drives have disadvantages such as high maintenance costs, energy consumption, and short lifespans. Previous studies have shown that DNA and synthetic polymers can be designed to effectively store information, but decrypting these molecules can be costly. However, plastic molecules might be affordable and practical, according to first author Eric Anslyn.
Did You Know? The decode process currently takes about 2.5 hours for an 11-digit password, but the team is working on improving it. They vision portable, integrated technologies for data storage on a plastic basis.
The Catch: One-Time-Use Storage
The plastic molecule password storage works by creating an alphabet of four different monomers, or molecular building blocks, with different electrochemical properties. A character consists of different combinations of these four building blocks, resulting in a total of 256 possible characters. The researchers used this molecular alphabet to store an 11-digit password ("Dh&@dR%P0W¢") in a polymer, a chain-like molecule.
To decrypt the message, the polymer is broken down building block by building block, starting at one end. Since each building block has a unique electrochemical property, this gradual breakdown reveals the stored information: in this case, the password. A disadvantage of this method is that each molecular message can only be read once, as the polymers are destroyed during decryption.
In Case You Missed It: Researchers at University of Texas have found a way to store your 11-digit password in a plastic molecule with potential benefits over traditional storage methods. While the plastic method could offer advantages such as low maintenance costs, energy consumption, and long lifespan, it does have the downside of being one-time-use. Keep an eye on this research as the team aims to make it faster and more efficient!
Sources: ntv.de, kst
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The study by the University of Texas researchers suggests that storing data in plastic molecules could offer advantages over traditional storage methods, such as low maintenance costs, reduced energy consumption, and a long lifespan. However, it's important to note that the plastic molecule storage method is currently one-time-use.
Interestingly, this method of data storage might find applications in the field of education, science, and technology, as it has the potential to revolutionize the way we store everyday information in common materials. This innovation could be particularly significant for scientific research, as it could provide a more affordable and practical alternative to traditional methods like hard drives and flash drives, which have high maintenance costs and short lifespans.
