Radio waves work without cables. So do cell phones and wifi. However we still need wires to transmit light or electricity. That may change. The first experiments with wireless power transmission are being done and now researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a fiber optic laser that transmits light signals without the need for cables. The special laser is split into a ring of numerous beams making an optical pipe through thin air. This split beam quickly heats the air molecules it passes through. Researchers then used another laser to spark plasma at one end of the beam and found that an optical signal created by the plasma travelled through the first laser, even though it was made essentially out of thin air. This discovery, still in proof of concept, could have a large impact on everything from Internet connectivity, to remote data collection.
Cable-less fiber optic design creates connections out of thin air
More of Today's Solutions
Nepal’s highest court orders government to guarantee same-sex marriage rights
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Finally, Nepal has marriage equality. On June 18, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a binding directive ordering the ...
Read MoreThe skin compound that makes some more delicious to mosquitoes than others
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Mosquitoes don’t pick targets randomly. They run a multi-stage sensory scan, and new research is beginning to explain ...
Read More3 healthy habits to boost your immunity this cold and flu season
A mild headache that just won't go away, a box of tissues by the bed, and sleeping uncomfortably with your mouth wide open... It's ...
Read More3 foolproof ways to signal commitment in the confusing world of modern dating
Even while the ceremony and tradition of conventional marriages are losing their appeal to many couples these days, the pursuit of long-term relationships remains a ...
Read More
