In the online comic strip xkcd, cartoonist Randall Munroe humorously highlights society’s struggle to establish universal standards for everyday objects. The strip has become a staple in presentations attended by many, including cell biologist Jason Swedlow. Swedlow has spent two decades trying to standardize image formats for biological microscopy data, which is currently plagued by around 160 competing formats. To tackle this issue, Swedlow and his collaborators have developed OME-Zarr, a next-generation file format for bioimaging. This format aims to simplify data storage, access, and sharing, making it easier for researchers to collaborate and make their data accessible. However, convincing the bioimaging community to adopt this new standard remains a challenge.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03064-9