Sea sponge builds a better glass fiber

Thu Aug 21 16:11:43 UTC 2003

http://www.msnbc.com/news/954985.asp?0dm=C12MT

Associated Press

Scientists say they have identified an ocean sponge living in the darkness of the deep sea that grows thin glass fibers capable of transmitting light at least as well as industrial fiber optic cables used for telecommunication. The natural glass fibers also are much more flexible than manufactured fiber optic cable that can crack if bent too far.
"YOU CAN ACTUALLY tie a knot in these natural biological fibers and they will not break -- it's really quite amazing," said Joanna Aizenberg, who led the research at Bell Laboratories. 