Researchers at the University of Cambridge have successfully demonstrated a biological computing system that uses synthetic DNA to perform complex mathematical calculations, potentially paving the way for ultra-dense data storage and internal-body diagnostic tools.

The 'computer' uses biochemical reactions to process data, which is millions of times more energy-efficient than traditional silicon-based chips. It can store an entire petabyte of data in a space no larger than a grain of sugar.

"We are moving from silicon to carbon," said the lead researcher. "In the future, your computer might not be a device in your pocket, but a system that lives and breathes alongside you."

The research, published in Science, has attracted interest from major tech firms including Microsoft and Google, who are exploring DNA as a solution to the world's burgeoning data storage crisis.