Kapany is credited with inventing fiber optics, which are widely used for fiber-optic communications (superior to metal wires because signals can travel along more easily with less attenuation/signal loss). Before, fiber optics were known, but were largely forgotten and their uses not very deeply explored. In 1953, Harold Hopkins and Kapany made fiber optic “bundles” and achieved high-quality image transmission, showing that they had practical use in today’s world. More than a decade later, fiber optics were used in the television cameras sent to the moon. Kapany passed away in December of 2020, at the age of 94.

Legacy:
Kapany was the founding chairman of the Sikh Foundation, and funded much of its activities for over five decades.