# New record: Quantum memory
In April, Li Chuanfeng, Zhou Zongquan, and other scientists from the Guo Guangcan academician team of the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, East China's Anhui province, successfully extended the storage time of optical memories to over one hour, breaking the record of one minute made by German researchers in 2013.
The storage of photons is crucial in the field of quantum communications. By extending the storage of photons in quantum memory, quantum information can be transmitted by directly transporting quantum memory. Considering the speed of transportation such as via airplanes and high-speed rails, the storage time of a quantum memory needs to be at least an hour.
With longer storage times, quantum information is expected to be transmitted by traditional carriers in a new quantum channel.