Light on Chips Matches Fiber Optics | Science News

Science News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 17, 2026 · 2m

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…