In case you missed it (ICYMI), here are some of the stories that made headlines in the world of cleanrooms and nanotechnology in the past week:

Researchers have found a way to get faster Internet by designing a tunable filter, which is an important component of high-capacity optical networks. The development could save both money and energy, since it can be easily integrated onto a photonic chip. The device’s performance can be compared to the most superior bench-top systems, but in a much smaller size. The filter’s tuning span measures how well the device adjusts to fluctuating data demands, and it’s the widest ever demonstrated on a silicon chip. The device also possesses an unlimited free-spectral range, which means that it’ll work over any range of frequencies. 

ON Semiconductor has announced that it will acquire fellow chip company Fairchild Semiconductor for $2.4 billion in cash. The merger is intended to combine two companies with similar product lines and consolidate the semiconductor industry. ON’s presence will be boosted in the industrial, automotive, and smartphone markets. 

Finally … high school students interested in science, engineering, and superpowers can throw their hats in the ring to win cash and present their entries at the 2016 USA Science & Engineering Festival. Generation Nano: Small Science, Superheroes — sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the National Nanotechnology Initiative — invites students to contribute original ideas for superheroes who use unique vehicle, costume, tool, or other gear that is inspired by nanotechnology. Entries are due by Feb. 2.