Subscribe now
A man replaces a magnetic tape data storage drive in an early model office computer, mid 1970s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Magnetic tape: The surprisingly retro way big tech stores your data

13 December 2022

From family photos to particle physics data, we generate stupendous amounts of digital information - and much of it is stored on old-fashioned plastic cartridges

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop