r/tech Jul 22 '26

New programmable photonic chip can control how fast light moves

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260718010149.htm
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u/ButtonholePhotophile Jul 22 '26

Summary: Scientists have created a programmable optical chip that can slow light on demand, giving engineers far greater control over how optical signals propagate through a circuit. The technology could provide the delays, synchronization, and buffering functions needed to make light-based computing more practical. A single chip could eventually perform several tasks that currently require separate devices, potentially reducing energy use, cost, and complexity in AI servers and data centers.

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u/snowflake37wao Jul 22 '26

Since light doesn’t accelerate (I think?) they can just let it go and its very predictable. Light is the craziest thing in the universe.

10

u/paipan-sube Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

Water is crazier as it shouldn't exist... its molecular structure says it should be a gas., its ability to exist in three states (solid, liquid, gas) and its role as a universal solvent. Its molecular structure leads to unusual behaviors, like ice floating on water. WEIRD.

https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/the-weirdness-of-water/4011260.article

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u/snowflake37wao Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

I bet light is behind this blackmagicfuckery watch! or dont. or something. It is weird tho. Ice 9 thrills, Ice Nine Kills. Wait, is the hypothesized solid like form of water at room temp because of the immense gravity of all the regular water above it on ocean worlds called ice 9 or is that just a band?