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MIT Scientists Reach Fiber-Optic Breakthrough

kcurtis writes "The AP (via boston.com) has a story about how MIT scientists have detailed a breakthrough in optics that could lead to cheaper, more efficient optical communications. From the story: 'Like polarizing sunglasses that block light waves oriented in different directions, the MIT researchers created a clever device that splits the light beams as they pass through a circuit. The device then rotates one of the polarized beams, before both beams are rejoined on their way out of the circuit, retaining the signals' strength. But it's not just that device that the researchers are touting. They're also trumpeting the innovative method they devised to integrate the optical circuitry with electronic circuitry on the same silicon chip.'"

3 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. Yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    This gets me my flying car how??

  2. FTL, FTW ! by Hesty+Heffew · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    So this will make my Vienna OS crash at the speed of light ?

  3. Is it me or by ZonkerWilliam · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    We've had so many breathroughs that we should all have flying cars, be immortal, use sugar cube size supercomputers, and interstellar flight by now??? I Get tired of media hype all of the time!