Researchers store petabits of data with DNA

Researchers store petabits of data with DNA Using DNA as a storage device, Harvard researchers managed to store one million gigabits of data per cubic millimeter. Biology's databank, DNA has long tantalized researchers with its potential as a storage medium: fantastically dense, stable, energy efficient and proven to work over a timespan of some 3.5 billion years. While not the first project to demonstrate the potential of DNA storage, Church's team married next-generation sequencing technology with a novel strategy to encode 1,000 times the largest amount of data previously stored in DNA. So does this qualify as big data or super tiny data? [via @jakeporway] Tracing the paths of humpback whales For the past ten years, researchers have been tagging hump back whales in the Gulf of Maine with a temporary tracking device called a D-tag. Whereas old tech only recorded location at the surface, the D-tag records depth and orientation allowing researchers to record feeding and diving patterns, which turns out to be pretty unique for each whale. Scientists hope to use the data to shift fishing and boating policies in the area. Kelly Slivka for the New York Times reports. Be sure to watch the video with the scientists pointing at their computer screens. Most common London surnames mapped James Cheshire, a geography lecturer at the University College London, mapped common surnames in London. This map shows the 15 most frequent surnames in each Middle Super Output Area (MSOA) across Greater London. The colours represent the origin of the surname (not necessarily the person) derived from UCL's Onomap Classification tool. The surnames have also been scaled by their total frequency in each MSOA. A slider lets you browse through the most common down to the 15th most common, revealing clusters of cultural majorities, down to minorities. Become a member. Get access to tutorials and directly support FlowingData. You are receiving this email because you opted in on FlowingData. Mailing address: FlowingData PO Box 3381 Livermore, CA 94550 Add us to your address book Unsubscribe | Update subscription preferences