'Researchers at General Electric claim to have made a key breakthrough in optical data storage that could lead to commercial discs holding the equivalent of 100 DVDs within three years.

'The new technology is based on the physics of holograms, which enable information to be packed far more densely than with established recording formats. A new device will be needed to play these discs but this will be compatible with established formats like CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs, say the US-based team.'