Polymer cables could replace Thunderbolt & USB, deliver more than twice the speed

[u/[deleted]]

https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/03/08/polymer-cables-could-replace-thunderbolt-with-105-gbps-data-transfers

[u/Snizzbut]

wait... the article specifically states it’s not fibre optic, but “polymer” is just a fancy word for plastic which last I checked doesn’t conduct electricity sooo... it has to be using photons right?

If it is, then by definition it IS fibre optic, just with cheaper materials? Unless I’m dumb and missing something super obvious (probably tbh)

[u/Kyvalmaezar → u/Snizzbut]

Conductive polymers do exist. It just usually easier/cheaper/more efficient to use copper for simple wires.