An Israeli astronaut to carry world’s smallest Bible into space

1 de March de 2022

The Nano Bible” is a 0.5 square-millimeter silicon nanochip on which the 1.2 million letters of the Hebrew Bible were etched with a focused beam of energetic gallium ions.

It was created at the Israel Institute of Technology, known as the Technion, and is usually displayed alongside the historic Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

“The Bible is the oldest and most important text for the Jewish people, and one of the most important for the entire world. It’s a cornerstone of human culture,” said Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan.

“Taken into space, the Nano Bible connects distance and time, the past and the future, and ancient human culture with modern technology,” he added.

Stibbe mentioned that taking the Nano Bible into space “symbolizes harmony between groundbreaking technology and respect for our heritage as humanity.”

Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan (left) with Eytan Stibbe

“Creating a copy of this ancient text, using innovative technology, allows us to look into the future with hope while remembering our past. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to look at this technological marvel as I float in space,“ added the Israeli astronaut.

The next mission, which will include three other astronauts, being the first entirely private crew to visit the International Space Station, is scheduled to launch on March 30.