In a monumental feat of modern science, researchers from the University Kingdom have successfully encoded the complete human genome within a "5D memory crystal," an archival medium designed to endure the test of time for billions of years. This cutting-edge technology, the brainchild of the University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Centre, is poised to serve as a genetic ark, preserving the blueprint of humanity against the possibility of extinction.

This remarkable crystal, with a storage capacity of up to 360 terabytes, is a testament to human ingenuity. It has been crafted to withstand the most extreme conditions, including temperature extremes of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius, as well as cosmic radiation, fires, and impacts. Recognized by the Guinness World Record in 2014 as the "most durable digital storage material," it represents a significant leap in the preservation of human knowledge.

Led by Professor Peter Kazansky, the team employed ultra-fast lasers to etch the intricate data of the human genome into nanoscale voids, each a mere 20 nanometers across. This data is encoded across five dimensions—height, length, width, orientation, and position—hence the term "5D." Kazansky envisions a future where this crystal could be the foundation for restoring complex life forms, should the need arise.

In anticipation of future retrieval by an intelligence yet unknown, the scientists have inscribed a visual key within the crystal, a guide for those who might seek to unlock its secrets in a time beyond our own. This foresight raises profound questions about the longevity of our technologies and the continuity of our knowledge.

The memory crystal now resides in the Memory of Mankind archive, nestled within a salt cave in Austria, a fitting repository for such a treasure of human heritage. It joins other cultural and historical artifacts preserved through the same technology, including the works of Isaac Asimov and key documents like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Magna Carta.

As we cast our gaze to the cosmos, the potential of this technology echoes in the plans to establish a cryogenic biorepository on the moon, a lunar Noah's Ark of sorts, to safeguard Earth's biodiversity against cataclysmic events. The 5D memory crystal stands as a beacon of hope, a promise that the story of humanity and life on Earth can be preserved, even in the face of the unfathomable vastness of time.