TED Tech Could we replace data centers with … plant DNA? | Cliff Kapono and Keolu Fox
Dec 13, 2024
Keolu Fox, a groundbreaking genome scientist blending technology with indigenous knowledge, teams up with Cliff Kapono, a professional surfer and analytical chemist, to explore revolutionary data storage solutions. They discuss the incredible potential of using plant DNA, like that from sugar cane, as mini data warehouses. This innovative approach not only addresses the growing demand for data but also promotes environmental sustainability. Their vision highlights how merging science with native wisdom could reshape our relationship with technology and the planet.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Greener Data Storage
- Data centers, crucial for our digital lives, have a significant environmental impact.
- Keolu Fox and Cliff Kapano propose a greener approach using plant DNA for data storage.
Data Storage Solution
- Data storage is a growing challenge with increasing data production and consumption.
- The speakers propose storing data in the genomes of living organisms, like plants.
Sugarcane's Colonial History
- American sugarcane plantation owners illegally overthrew the Hawaiian kingdom in 1893.
- This was partly to avoid sugar import taxes, leading to oppression.