Microsoft relies on glass data storage for the kind of files you can’t afford to lose, the records that need to last through hardware upgrades, format changes, and decades. According to Project Silica research, laser-etched quartz glass can store data for 10,000 years, with a longer lifespan possible under normal storage conditions.
The data is written into a small glass plate using ultra-fast lasers and later reconstructed by imaging and decoding software. Microsoft also pointed to a peer-reviewed Nature paper as evidence that it can reliably write, read and decrypt what it stores. This is aimed at archives, not your personal photo drive.
Still, it’s early. Access depends on purpose-built readers, and the system must demonstrate the ability to increase write throughput and scale manufacturing beyond demonstrations.
As Microsoft writes in glass
Project Silica converts bits into symbols and maps them to tiny 3D dots called voxels. A high-power laser inscribes these voxels into a square quartz glass plate the size of a CD, stacking layers across the entire thickness of the glass.
Retrieval is a two-part process. Microscopy captures images of each layer, then software reconstructs the patterns and an AI-based decoder translates them back into usable data. This decoding step is important because the storage is physical, but the meaning of what is stored remains in mathematics.
Why this is important for long-term archives
For institutions that store records for decades, glass data storage promises fewer migrations. Traditional media requires regular replacement and ongoing monitoring to manage failure, aging and environmental risks. Microsoft estimates durability at more than 10,000 years, even at 290°C, and describes quartz glass as resistant to moisture, electromagnetic interference and routine handling.
It will not eliminate every long-term danger. Archives continue to require disciplined processes, review and redundancy. But reducing the frequency with which the underlying media is replaced could reduce cost and complexity over time.
What to watch next
The next hurdle is making it practical on a large scale. Laser writing needs to get faster and the ecosystem around disks and readers needs to be affordable for companies that don’t want a bespoke setup.
Long-term accessibility is the other test. Even if the glass lasts for millennia, future access will depend on preserved specifications, stable decoding methods, and software that can still translate what is stored.
For now, consider Project Silica a signal that archival storage is changing. If you’re planning for longevity today, keep multiple copies on trusted media and have a clear service model with pricing, throughput and reader availability.
