Memory In Plant

INSTITUTION: University of New South Wales
YEAR: 2022
DISCIPLINE: Speculative Design

Did you know? 5 grams of DNA can store the world’s internet? Memory In Plant is a speculative design project that uses a succulent to store a lifetime of memories.

Data that we currently store as binary code can be converted into the genetic sequence of DNA. As DNA is very small, it has enormous storage potential while also being very stable.

Plants are almost 100% efficient at converting photons from sunlight into electrons which is what makes this theoretically viable.

Yet, can you remember every single thing that has ever happened in your life?

A plant that stores a lifetimes of memories

Memory In Plant, the plant of the future is a living organism that records a lifetime of memories. It serves as a backup of your brain, but unlike our brain, it does not forget, and it allows you to recall memories whenever you need it.

The plant, a succulent that is specially chosen for its hardy nature, utilises DNA to store data through its genetic code. It has enormous storage potential, which makes it suitable for the large amounts of information our brain processes. All the while, it can power itself through Plant Microbial Fuel Cell technology, utilising the excess energy the plant produces through photosynthesis and converting it into electricity.