Emily Leproust
Time is now to use DNA to store data
By Emily Leproust
Humanity generates 2.5 quintillion bytes of data — enough to max out the storage capacity of about 40 million iPhones — every day. Much of it gets stored “in the cloud,” meaning it’s saved in sprawling, frigid data centers.
Unfortunately, these data centers are contributing to the destruction of the environment. They account for as much as 1.5% of the world’s total annual electricity consumption — and are responsible for emitting more than 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, on par with the annual emissions from all commercial air travel in the entire United States.
With the total quantity of data created doubling every two years, the problem is poised to get much worse. To keep pace with how much data we’re creating, the entire surface of the planet would need to be covered with data storage centers by 2060.
Many companies and environmentalists have long recognized the ecological harm of our data-storage addiction. Data centers use a staggering volume of water, about 3-5 million gallons per day. That’s enough for a small city of 30,000-50,000 people, according to Texas Tech University professor Venkatesh Uddameri.
They also demand large amounts of rare earth minerals to construct their hardware. The mining process to extract those minerals is notoriously awful for the environment.
Companies can make these data centers less damaging — but they can’t actually make them green. The world’s voracious appetite for data is quickly canceling out any marginal improvements. For example, data centers are on track to account for 14% of all global emissions by 2040. That’s equivalent to what the entire United States currently emits.
The real solution lies in completely rethinking how we store data.
Instead of storing it electronically, scientists are optimistic that we could soon encode data into strands of DNA, a vastly more powerful medium, on a massive scale.
DNA is orders of magnitude more efficient at storing information than any existing method. A single gram of DNA can store up to 215 million gigabytes of information; that’s equivalent to roughly 10 million copies of the entirety of Wikipedia. In theory, if DNA were used to its full potential, all of the world’s data could be stored in the bed of a semi-truck.
At Twist Bioscience, the company I lead, we developed a transformational process to “write” data onto small silicon chips using DNA. Our scientists recently stored a Netflix original series in synthetic DNA. More recently, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, in collaboration with our team, discovered a way to increase the efficiency of current DNA data storage methods by a factor of 100.
Unlike servers in data centers, DNA-based storage methods are environmentally friendly. Once the information is converted into DNA, it consumes zero energy. That data also lasts much longer; while conventional magnetic hard drives wear out and need to be replaced every decade or so, data that’s been encoded in DNA could theoretically last for more than 500,000 years.
Our civilization is producing more data than ever. Without new approaches, data storage threatens to worsen environmental crises and spawn new ones. With hundreds of millions of new internet users added every year, the urgency couldn’t be greater. Approaches like DNA-based storage can help leverage the full promise and potential of the Information Age without sacrificing the planet’s health.
Emily Leproust is CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience. This piece originally ran in RealClearScience.
Local News
Football roundup: Christian Flutman helps Chicago Christian advance
Christian Flutman rarely comes off the field for Chicago Christian and he wouldn’t have it any other way. The senior starts at quarterback and defensive back and also is the holder for kicks — duties that kept him plenty busy on Nov. 2 when the Knights rolled by visiting Illini West 53-16 in a Class…
Oak Lawn-Hometown students back Trump in mock election
Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School took to the polls during a mock election. Even though they were too young to actually vote, students at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School participated in a mock election. The event, held Monday, Nov. 4, engaged all 1,100 students and staff in a hands-on civics and democracy experience. “I liked that…
Man arrested for battery at Orland Park polling place
A 24-year-old man was arrested on multiple charges, including aggravated battery, after causing a disturbance at the Orland Park Township Office on Sunday. Around 11 a.m., Orland Park police were dispatched to the polling location at 14807 Ravinia Ave. following reports of a man disrupting the voting line. Upon arrival, officers found Daniel Schmidt restrained…
Cloudy skies fail to dampen Veterans Day tribute in Worth
Under overcast skies and a brisk wind, Worth Mayor Mary Werner joined a crowd Sunday morning to honor veterans at the town’s annual Veterans Day Observance. The ceremony at the Eternal Flame Memorial on 111th Street and Harlem Avenue brought together local officials, Scouts, and community organizations to pay tribute to veterans from all eras.…
Evergreen Park cops nab suspects with license-plate reading camera help
Commendations are in order for members of the Evergreen Park Police Department who recently made a series of arrests that may have prevented major crimes. A license-plate reading camera alerted Evergreen Park police to a vehicle wanted by Markham Police for fleeing and eluding officers. Police found the vehicle parked at Aldi, 2541 W. 95th…
Community grieves after 16-year-old Argo High student fatally shot
Students and staff at Argo Community High School are mourning the death of Jaydin Bahena, a 16-year-old junior who was killed in an act of violence over the weekend. Bahena, remembered for his vibrant personality and kind heart, was fatally shot in Summit on Nov. 1, leaving the school and community grieving his sudden loss.…
Acorn to Oak studios highlight young artistic talent in Oak Lawn
The organizers of Acorn to Oak Studios in Oak Lawn aim to celebrate all things art. The studio was founded in November 2022, with an initial information event held in the north wing of Pilgrim Faith Church, 9411 S. 51st Ave. The first official session took place on Feb. 5, 2023. Andrea Zumhagen, a co-founder…
Loaf at first sight: Oak Lawn gets its first sourdough spot
The Village of Oak Lawn welcomed its first sourdough bread bakery and cafe last week, and judging by the reception, it couldn’t have come a moment too soon. The grand opening of Ancestral Oven Sourdough Bakery and Cafe, located at 4616 W. 103rd St., took place the morning of Oct. 31. The owners are the…
Lyle School Library Wins Prestigious Kendra Scott Award
Lyle School in Bridgeview received a transformative boost on Oct. 30, with a $2,000 gift certificate from First Book to enhance its collection of multicultural and diverse books, and an additional $1,000 for literacy enrichment from the Kendra Scott Foundation. The initiative, part of the Little Yellow Library program, aims to support Title 1 schools…
Neighbors
Football roundup: Christian Flutman helps Chicago Christian advance
Christian Flutman rarely comes off the field for Chicago Christian and he wouldn’t have it any other way. The senior starts at quarterback and defensive back and also is the holder for kicks — duties that kept him plenty busy on Nov. 2 when the Knights rolled by visiting Illini West 53-16 in a Class…
Oak Lawn-Hometown students back Trump in mock election
Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School took to the polls during a mock election. Even though they were too young to actually vote, students at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School participated in a mock election. The event, held Monday, Nov. 4, engaged all 1,100 students and staff in a hands-on civics and democracy experience. “I liked that…
Man arrested for battery at Orland Park polling place
A 24-year-old man was arrested on multiple charges, including aggravated battery, after causing a disturbance at the Orland Park Township Office on Sunday. Around 11 a.m., Orland Park police were dispatched to the polling location at 14807 Ravinia Ave. following reports of a man disrupting the voting line. Upon arrival, officers found Daniel Schmidt restrained…
Cloudy skies fail to dampen Veterans Day tribute in Worth
Under overcast skies and a brisk wind, Worth Mayor Mary Werner joined a crowd Sunday morning to honor veterans at the town’s annual Veterans Day Observance. The ceremony at the Eternal Flame Memorial on 111th Street and Harlem Avenue brought together local officials, Scouts, and community organizations to pay tribute to veterans from all eras.…
Evergreen Park cops nab suspects with license-plate reading camera help
Commendations are in order for members of the Evergreen Park Police Department who recently made a series of arrests that may have prevented major crimes. A license-plate reading camera alerted Evergreen Park police to a vehicle wanted by Markham Police for fleeing and eluding officers. Police found the vehicle parked at Aldi, 2541 W. 95th…
Community grieves after 16-year-old Argo High student fatally shot
Students and staff at Argo Community High School are mourning the death of Jaydin Bahena, a 16-year-old junior who was killed in an act of violence over the weekend. Bahena, remembered for his vibrant personality and kind heart, was fatally shot in Summit on Nov. 1, leaving the school and community grieving his sudden loss.…
Acorn to Oak studios highlight young artistic talent in Oak Lawn
The organizers of Acorn to Oak Studios in Oak Lawn aim to celebrate all things art. The studio was founded in November 2022, with an initial information event held in the north wing of Pilgrim Faith Church, 9411 S. 51st Ave. The first official session took place on Feb. 5, 2023. Andrea Zumhagen, a co-founder…
Loaf at first sight: Oak Lawn gets its first sourdough spot
The Village of Oak Lawn welcomed its first sourdough bread bakery and cafe last week, and judging by the reception, it couldn’t have come a moment too soon. The grand opening of Ancestral Oven Sourdough Bakery and Cafe, located at 4616 W. 103rd St., took place the morning of Oct. 31. The owners are the…
Lyle School Library Wins Prestigious Kendra Scott Award
Lyle School in Bridgeview received a transformative boost on Oct. 30, with a $2,000 gift certificate from First Book to enhance its collection of multicultural and diverse books, and an additional $1,000 for literacy enrichment from the Kendra Scott Foundation. The initiative, part of the Little Yellow Library program, aims to support Title 1 schools…