Microsoft says its glass-based storage project now works with 'the same material found in kitchen cookware and oven doors' and can hold data for 10,000 years

PC Gamer

by Jess Kinghorn

February 19, 2026

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Microsoft says its glass-based storage project now works with 'the same material found in kitchen cookware and oven doors' and can hold data for 10,000 years

Microsoft has unveiled an innovative glass-based storage project that could revolutionize long-term data preservation. The technology, which involves etching data onto borosilicate glass using femtosecond laser pulses, can store information for up to 10,000 years. Unlike previous methods that relied on expensive fused silica, this new approach uses ordinary kitchen-grade glass, such as Pyrex, making it significantly more affordable and practical for widespread use. The project, known as Project Silica, has streamlined its technology to reduce costs further. Instead of using multiple cameras in the reader device, it now employs a single camera, simplifying the hardware and lowering production expenses. Additionally, the writing devices have become easier to manufacture and calibrate, enabling faster data encoding. These improvements make glass-based storage a more

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Originally published on PC Gamer on 2/19/2026