Traditional magnetic disks read and write data one bit at a time by altering the orientation of magnetized particles on a surface. The new concept focuses on storing data in the tiny disturbances within the magnetic orientation, called "skyrmions", which occur on a thin metallic film sandwiched against a different, non-magnetic metal. Electric fields in the non-magnetic layer influence the magnetic one, so the skyrmions can be controlled and manipulated, while intentionally-added defects in the magnetic layer cause the skyrmions to become pinned to specific locations. The surface then becomes a fact, efficient and controllable writing surface for data encoded in the skyrmions.

According to the researchers, the system has the potential to encode data at speeds high enough to make it suitable for faster memory systems used in Random Access Memory (RAM), as well as a substitute for magnetic media such as hard disks. However, the team has yet to come up with an effective way of reading the data once it's been stored -- the current equipment is too expensive and complicated to be used as part of an everyday computer system. Nonetheless, the findings herald a potential step change in the way data could be stored in the future, so you don't need to worry about reigning in your data habit just yet.