Normally, these holes are arranged in a hexagonal pattern, but the algorithm generated a bizarre flower-like pattern of holes that no human would have thought of trying.

ECONOMIST: Monitor

In the filaments, the same cross-sectional pattern of holes is preserved, but on a microscopic scale.

ECONOMIST: A new approach to making optical fibres

In the same way, the pattern of holes in a crystal fibre can create the equivalent for light of a graphite core and a diamond cladding.

ECONOMIST: A new approach to making optical fibres