Jim Al-Khalili - Quantum Life: How Physics Can Revolutionise Biology

In this Friday Evening Discourse at the Royal Institution, Professor Jim Al-Khalili explores how the mysteries of quantum theory might be observable at the biological level.

Although many examples can be found in the scientific literature dating back half a century, there is still no widespread acceptance that quantum mechanics -- that baffling yet powerful theory of the subatomic world -- might play an important role in biological processes. Biology is, at its most basic, chemistry, and chemistry is built on the rules of quantum mechanics in the way atoms and molecules behave and fit together.

As Jim explains, biologists have until recently been dismissive of counter-intuitive aspects of the theory and feel it to be unnecessary, preferring their traditional ball-and-stick models of the molecular structures of life. Likewise, physicists have been reluctant to venture into the messy and complex world of the living cell - why should they when they can test their theories far more cleanly in the controlled environment of the physics lab?

But now, experimental techniques in biology have become so sophisticated that the time is ripe for testing ideas familiar to quantum physicists. Can quantum phenomena in the subatomic world impact the biological level and be present in living cells or processes - from the way proteins fold or genes mutate and the way plants harness light in photosynthesis to the way some birds navigate using the Earth's magnetic field? All appear to utilise what Jim terms "the weirdness of the quantum world".

The discourse explores multiple theories of quantum mechanics, from superposition to quantum tunnelling, and reveals why "the most powerful theory in the whole of science" remains incredibly mysterious. Plus, watch out for a fantastic explanation of the famous double slit experiment.

Watch this video on the Ri Channel with additional learning materials:
http://bit.ly/X826sE

Friday Evening Discourses

The tradition of Friday evening discourses at the Royal Institution was started by Michael Faraday in 1825. Since that time most major scientific figures have spoken in the famous Lecture Theatre at the heart of the Ri building at 21 Albemarle Street. Notable talks include Faraday announcing the existence of the technology of photography in 1839 and J.J. Thomson announcing the existence of the fundamental particle later called the electron in 1897.

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[carryall69]

i have mentioned the orbital model before, that we learn it later in school and that it is closer to how it is. but bohr's model, though not really correct, finds his use in chemistry, when it's about molecules and chemical bonds, electron pairing and stuff. the question was about bohr and who he was. in dalton's time the subatomic particles were unknown, so the first working model at least in the world of chemistry was bohr's model, right?

[Erwin Schrodinger]

the only one working model of the atom is represented by the schrodinger equation , Bohr only introduced quanta which helped de broglie and others to give the actual explanation.

[carryall69]

i should have said the first working model, one you can use in chemistry class.

[Erwin Schrodinger]

actually the first model of the atom was introduced by John Dalton when he explained the composition of some elements in chemistry

[ISpeakWithCaps1]

what? There are several bright minds who have made similar quotes about QM. I don't see how Feynman's quote would make Bohr's less viable or missused.

[carryall69]

niels bohr is the guy who developed the first model of the atom, you know, the one we learn earlier in school with the atomic nucleus at the centre and electrons in neat, clearly defined circular orbits around. that's the bohr-model. later we learn the orbital model, you know, the orbitals table and stuff.

[magnus rawstron]

I find it more interesting and amazing that birds use sun positioning to navigate, look at how many people died in desert like conditions cause they were walking around in circles lost.

[cccaij]

(2) other things that have been used in the double slit are all relying on the electron's photon interaction to create the patterns. I believe it must have been what provoked Feynman's work on QED, to discover more about how electrons and photons interact, as the double slit was something he loved to ponder the implications of.)

[cccaij]

(1) If I had my druthers they would put less gravity on the double slit. It has proved interesting, and has made advancements (in the past)... but... it seems it is only photon verifiable, and if you rely on photon action and interaction to measure results than it will always be impossible to fully verify what is going on. Those rat bastard photons move at the speed of light and are massless, they allow for things to be viewed and yet they are un-viewable. (oh, and buckyballs, electrons, and all

[cccaij]

Consciousness will never be studied just to figure it out, or for all humans to finally have some piece of mind about the subject. Consciousness will only ever be indirectly revealed, in small amounts, as a byproduct of experiments that are looking to accomplish "practical" things.Something like while upgrading the nanotech/biological interface capabilities, or programming the far out next gen AI, or quantum computers,or some random mathematical genius, will be what shines light on consciousness