TOKYO, JAPAN: Japanese researchers discovered a metal oxide compound that could hold 200 times more data than Blu-ray discs, says a report in The Mainichi Daily News.

The compound discovered by University of Tokyo professor Shinichi Okoshi and other researchers could be produced in larger quantities and for a much cheaper price than alloys used in Blu-ray discs and DVDs.

Researchers found that the metal oxide could be transformed into states altering the ease by which electricity could pass though simply by applying light.

DVDs and Blu-ray discs are made using alloys with germanium and other rare metals. The price of the compound discovered by researchers is about one-hundredth of the price, and is safe to handle, the report adds.