Imagine using your phone one day to help your body heal itself. It might sound like something from a sci-fi movie, but researchers in the growing field of quantum biology are exploring how that could actually be possible.
While we’ve come a long way in understanding how cells and genes work, scientists are now asking: What if quantum mechanics—the strange science of atoms and particles—plays a bigger role in biology than we ever realized?
What Is Quantum Biology?
Quantum mechanics is the science that explains how particles like electrons behave. At that scale, things get weird. Particles can exist in two places at once, tunnel through barriers, and interact in ways that just don’t happen in everyday life.
These odd behaviors usually fade away in messy, warm environments—like the inside of a living cell. That’s why most physicists assumed that quantum effects couldn’t survive inside our bodies. But more and more evidence says otherwise.
Scientists have found that certain chemical reactions inside proteins and DNA only make sense when you consider quantum effects. In fact, some researchers believe that nature itself may have figured out how to use quantum tricks to optimize how our bodies work.
Real-Life Examples of Quantum Effects in Nature
Birds may navigate using Earth’s magnetic field thanks to quantum effects in their eyes.
Enzymes seem to use quantum tunneling to speed up reactions.
Cell processes, like how energy moves through molecules or how stem cells grow, might also be influenced by quantum properties.
If all this is true, it means our current understanding of biology is missing a big piece of the puzzle.
Why This Matters
Clarice D. Aiello, a quantum engineer at UCLA, is at the forefront of this research. Her lab builds tools to study how electrons behave in biological systems—especially a property called spin, which describes how electrons respond to magnetic fields.
She and others have found that weak magnetic fields can change how certain reactions happen in cells. That opens the door to something amazing: using magnetic fields to tweak biological processes like cell growth or tissue repair.
Think of it this way: if we can map out how tiny particles inside our bodies respond to magnetic fields, we might one day develop wearable or even smartphone-based devices to help treat illness or injury—without surgery or drugs.
What’s Next?
The biggest challenge right now is creating a "quantum codebook"—a clear guide to connect quantum causes with biological effects. We already have the technology to create the magnetic fields; we just need to understand how to use them safely and effectively.
That’s why collaboration is key. Aiello’s lab partners with scientists across many fields—from quantum physics to medicine—to explore this fascinating frontier. Together, they’re working to figure out how life works at the smallest scales and how we might harness that knowledge to improve health and technology.
A New Era in Science?
Quantum biology is still a young field, but it could reshape how we treat disease, design new therapies, and even grow food. More research will help us answer some of life’s biggest questions—and possibly unlock the ability to control life itself at the quantum level.
Source:
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/10/beyond-weird-decohe…
https://theconversation.com/when-researchers-dont-have-the-proteins-the…
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