This is a interesting read if you care about these kinds of things. Archive: https://archive.today/ipJrs From the post: >>International research team unveils the first electrically pumped continuous-wave semiconductor laser designed for seamless integration with silicon. Scientists from Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), the University of Stuttgart, the Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics (IHP), and their French partner CEA-Leti have successfully developed the first electrically pumped continuous-wave semiconductor laser made entirely from group IV elements, commonly referred to as the “silicon group” in the periodic table.