Light on Chips Matches Fiber Optics | Science News

Caltech scientists have cracked a major hurdle in chip-based optics by printing fiber-optic-grade glass directly onto silicon, letting light travel through tiny spirals with almost zero loss—matching the efficiency of internet cables. This breakthrough could supercharge lasers, quantum computers, and ultra-precise sensors, while slashing energy use in data centers. The secret? An atomic-level smooth surface that cuts scattering by 20x at visible wavelengths, boosting laser coherence by over 100 times. Dubbed a “Swiss Army knife” for tech, this is just the start of what’s possible. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/9398addc4f8f70db