An antenna facilitates the communication process by converting electrical current into electromagnetic waves and vice versa. The electromagnetic spectrum includes radiowaves, microwaves, heat waves, ultraviolet waves, X-rays and gamma rays. Thanks to a new research, light has become the latest addition to this list. Researchers at the US-based Boston College, the Army Natick Soldier Centre, Mega Wave Corporation and Florida International University have found that multiwalled carbon nanotubes, nothing more than rolled-up sheets of carbon atoms, can act as antennas; they receive and transmit nanoscale wavelengths of visible light just like the conventional antennas receive and transmit radiowaves.

The nanotube antenna can be used to convert optical signals to electrical signals in communications equipment; to carry out optical computing; to detect different wavelengths of light including the infrared wavelengths used in telecommunications equipment; and to convert sunlight into electricity.