In 1970, researchers at Corning Glass Works (Maurer, Keck, and Schultz) created the first glass fiber capable of transmitting light signals over long distances with minimal loss. Fiber optics works on the principle of 'total internal reflection,' where light pulses carry data through thin strands of ultra-pure glass. This invention replaced copper wires in telecommunications, offering vastly higher bandwidth and speed. It is the backbone of the modern internet; without fiber optic cables spanning the ocean floor, global high-speed data transmission would be impossible. This technology allows for the instantaneous streaming of video, high-speed financial trading, and real-time global communication that defines the 21st century.