tech
February 21, 2026
Smaller than a bacterium, yet stores terabytes: This is the Guinness World Record that sounds impossible
Researchers from the University of Vienna have set a new Guinness World Record by engraving the world's smallest QR code, whose surface area is smaller than most known bacteria. This microscopic record, only 1.98 square micrometers in size, is invisible to the naked eye and requires an electron microscope for reading.
TL;DR
- A new Guinness World Record was set for the smallest QR code, measuring 1.98 square micrometers, smaller than most bacteria.
- The microscopic QR code is invisible to the naked eye and requires an electron microscope for reading.
- Data is engraved on special ceramic films using focused ion beams, with individual code points at 49 nanometers in diameter.
- This ceramic storage is chemically inert, stable, and can preserve information for thousands of years without energy or maintenance.
- It offers a climate-friendly alternative to data centers, potentially storing over 2 terabytes on an A4 sheet without cooling or power.
- The technology ensures modern achievements are preserved beyond the lifespan of current hardware.
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