The Internet's Glass and Laser Secrets 🔬

Is silica the molecule memes are made of?

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Caitlin and Arlo explore a material that may seem mundane and ubiquitous, but is in fact the backbone of our modern telecommunications infrastructure: silica glass. They visit the Diablo Glass School to discover how chemistry plays an important role in the material’s versatility, and  experiment with manipulating glass to change its color, and make it so durable that even hammering won’t break it.  

But how does this lead to the internet? To find out, they meet with the Exploratorium’s Desiré Whitmore -- also known as “LaserChick” -- who uses lasers to demonstrate how information can be transmitted through glass, and explains how that forms the basis of an ever-growing global fiber optic network than enables high speed internet communication.

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You can seek out our hosts here:
:: Caitlin Saks ::
Twitter: https://twitter.com/caitlin_saks 

:: Arlo Pérez Esquivel :: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perezarlo 

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Produced and Hosted by: Caitlin Saks and Arlo Pérez
Associate Producer: Angelica Coleman
Associate Researcher: Christina Monnen
Science Advisor: Matthew Eddy
Animation: Edgeworx Studios
Executive Producers: Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt

Executives in Charge for PBS: Brandon Arolfo, Adam Dylewski
Assistant Director of Programming for PBS: Niki Walker
Digital Editor: Hanna Ali
Senior Digital Editor: Sukee Bennett
Rights Manager: Hannah Gotwals
Business Manager: Elisabeth Frele
Digital Managing Producer: Kristine Allington
Coordinating Producer: Elizabeth Benjes
Director of Public Relations: Jennifer Welsh
Legal and Business Affairs: Susan Rosen and Eric Brass

Archival: Internet Archive; Storyblocks
Music:  APM

Special Thanks to Sarah Michalik

Funding for NOVA provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,  and the NOVA Science Trust.
 
Original Production Funding for Out of Our Elements provided by
Anne Ray Foundation, a Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropy

Out of Our Elements is a production of GBH.
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