Better fiber optic cables? Ask a clam
Corculum cardissa
December 1, 2024 – Since the rollout of the first fiber optic cables in the 1970s, they have become an essential part of our society, enabling everything from medical devices to ultra-fast internet and cable television. But there’s always room for improvement. Research has shown that a certain type of heart clam (Corculum cardissa) possesses unique structures in its shell that function like fiber optic cables, transporting specific wavelengths of light to the tissues of the bivalve.
Using electron and laser microscopy along with computer simulations, researchers from Duke University and Stanford University have discovered that these clamshells are equipped with translucent areas composed of hair-thin strands arranged in bundles. These bundles deliver light deep into the shell. According to the research team, these mollusks could inspire innovative ways to design fiber optic cables capable of transmitting light over long distances—even around bends—without signal loss or light leakage.
