Modern communication technology is based on light guiding fibres, but did you know you can produce the very same effect with the waterstream pouring down from an ewer? The reason why the light can only be seen in the aquarium when the stream hits the water insight, but not before, is -- same as for light fibres -- that the reflection angle of light waves propagating inside of it is smaller than the critical angle for total reflection! See this live at the 2006/07 Physikshow of the University of Bonn.
http://www.physikshow.uni-bonn.de/
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