Microsoft's latest glass storage breakthrough promises to hold data for 10,000 years — but will Project Silica shatter under the pressure?

• Writing a full 4.8TB glass disc takes more than 18 days — far too slow for daily operations
• Cheaper borosilicate glass reduces costs but cannot fix practical limitations
• Microsoft’s statement signals closure rather than a commitment to future development

Microsoft has offered a fresh update on Project Silica, its long-running effort to store digital information inside glass plates for centuries.

The company says new research published in Nature shows that borosilicate glass — similar to the material used in oven doors and Pyrex glassware — can preserve data far longer than conventional archive systems such as HDD, SSD, or magnetic tape.

Laboratory tests suggest a viable lifespan of more than 10,000 years, far beyond the limits of current physical storage media.