Channeling light in the deep sea

A genus of sea sponges grows its own light-conducting fibers that are remarkably similar to commercial-grade optical fibers–and in some ways better. A team of U.S. and Israeli researchers that recently studied several Euplectella species says the primitive creatures’ fibers might serve as a model for improved telecommunications fiber optics.

LIGHT HOUSE. A deep-sea Euplectella sponge grows light-transmitting glass fibers (arrow) that are in some ways superior to commercial optical fibers.