A new discovery in physics will lead to cheaper and
faster communications and computers. By implanting rare earth materials in
silicon chips, the silicon was able to interact directly with fiber optic
signals. This will eventually mean cheaper, faster communications by
eliminating the need for separate photonics chips that currently translate
between fiber optics and silicon (computational chips). 
New Silicon Chip Communications Capability on Horizon
A new discovery in physics will lead to cheaper and
faster communications and computers. By implanting rare earth materials in
silicon chips, the silicon was able to interact directly with fiber optic
signals. This will eventually mean cheaper, faster communications by
eliminating the need for separate photonics chips that currently translate
between fiber optics and silicon (computational chips).