Hacker News front pageElise Cutts11 min readintermediate
Biology might not be quantum, but its math is quantumlike
Summary
Initial excitement about quantum coherence in biological processes like photosynthesis has largely given way to skepticism. Researchers now propose that complex classical biological systems might mathematically mimic quantum behavior, rather than exploiting true quantum mechanics.
- Early evidence for quantum coherence in photosynthesis, like 'beats' in light-harvesting complexes, was later attributed to classical molecular resonances.
- Maintaining long-lived quantum coherence in warm, wet cellular environments is extremely difficult due to rapid decoherence.
- Gregory Scholes suggests that biological systems achieve quantum-like functionality through complex classical networks, not true quantum effects.
- These 'quantumlike' states emerge when many interacting, oscillating classical parts produce collective behavior that obeys quantum mathematics.
This article is important for researchers in quantum biology and complex systems, as it proposes a fundamental shift in how biological 'quantum' phenomena should be investigated, moving from true quantum mechanics to classical mimicry.
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