Home › Forum Online Discussion › Philosophy › Spooky World of Quantum Biology (cutting edge science article)
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June 4, 2009 at 12:40 pm #31632Michael WinnKeymaster
note: this is where science is finally trying to catch up with alchemical processes of “gan ying”: coherence created by resonance at a distance. The movement is in the right direction, away from old ideas of mechaniing the process, allowing light/chi to flow in all directions and all timelines at once and using the feedback to choose the most evolutionary timeline in the present movment.
micihaelTHE SPOOKY WORLD OF QUANTUM BIOLOGY
By Michael Garfield
hplusmagazine.com
June 1, 2009http://hplusmagazine.com/articles/bio/spooky-world-quantum-biology
One hundred and fifty years ago, paleontologist Thomas Henry Huxley (an
autodidact and philosopher who coined the term “agnostic” and was known as
“Darwin’s Bulldog” for his passionate defense of natural selection) asserted
that humankind would eventually take the processes of evolution into our own
hands. Within a few decades of his proclamation, a cadre of equally
brilliant scientists including Werner Heisenberg, David Bohm, and Max Planck
began to unravel the mysterious properties of quantum mechanics. These two
theories — evolutionary and quantum dynamics — can each be considered
among the most important discoveries of all time. Taken together, they have
changed almost everything about the way we understand reality. However, in
spite of the popularity of interdisciplinary research and unifying theories
over the last hundred years (despite, even, quantum physicist Erwin
Schröedinger’s 1944 book, What Is Life?), it was only recently that the
relationship between these two vastly important domains was even considered.
Now, a new kind of science, called “quantum biology,” is beginning to emerge
- and it could change everything we know, again..The premise is simple. Life is a molecular process; molecular processes
operate according to the quantum playbook; therefore, life is a quantum
process. And yet, it wasn’t until the nineties that anyone suggested biology
could be better understood by looking at it through the lens of quantum
theory. (The seminal paper was D.V. Nanopoulos’ “Theory of brain function,
quantum mechanics and superstrings.”) Not long after that, the idea caught
on — particularly in the neurosciences, where the idea of the brain as a
quantum computer quickly became a topic of fierce debate.Quantum computation, a science still in its infancy, promises swiftness and
efficiency vastly superior to anything possible with conventional silicon
chips. Rather than relying on binary bits like contemporary systems, quantum
computers use “qubits” that include all possible superpositions of a
particle’s classical state. Instead of being “trapped” in a single
configuration, the logic gates of a quantum computer employ multiple
possibilities in synchrony — using the entire set of alternative outcomes
to arrive at an answer.It’s a promising avenue for people with big plans for strong AI or virtual
reality. The only complication is that coherence — in which the many
possible states of a particle or group of particles stay hung in
superposition — is something scientists have only been able to study under
extremely controlled conditions. It’s only possible when that system doesn’t
interact with anything else that might “collapse the wave function,” and so
most of the major options for quantum computing involve impractical
scenarios like creating a supercooled vacuum.This is one of the reasons that many scientists have considered quantum
biology both unlikely and unscientific. The thermal noise of biological
systems seemed too great to allow for quantum weirdness; and even if it
could, how on Earth would we study it? But science is the story of
ingenuity’s victory over shortsightedness — and one research team, led by
Gregory S. Engel at UC Berkeley, has devised way to directly detect and
observe quantum-level processes within a cell using high-speed lasers.They were trying to establish exactly how organic photosynthesis approaches
95% efficiency, whereas the most sophisticated human solar cells operate at
only half that. What they discovered is nothing short of remarkable. Using
femtosecond lasers to follow the movement of light energy through a
photosynthetic bacterial cell, Engel et al. observed the energy traveling
along every possible direction at the same time. Instead of following a
single trajectory like the electrons on a silicon chip, the energy in
photosynthesis explores all of its options and collapses the quantum process
only after the fact, retroactively “deciding” upon the most efficient
pathway.What does this all mean? Not only does quantum phenomena occur in living
systems, but the basic processes of life we take for granted rely on the
transfer of information backward in time. Life is so magical because it
cheats.Although the mechanisms by which a living cell can prevent decoherence by
dampening its own chemical “noise” remain utterly mysterious, findings such
as Engels’ conclusively demonstrate that room-temperature quantum computing
is possible (and knowing how something works isn’t always necessary in order
to use it). And Engel’s group isn’t the only team to detect it: other
laboratories have implicated a phenomenon called electron tunneling
(micro-teleportation, in which an electron disappears in one location and
instantaneously appears somewhere else without having traveled the
intermediate distance) at work behind a range of organic phenomena, from our
sense of smell and the activities of our enzymes to the neutralization of
free radicals with anti-oxidants possibly even consciousness itself. Paul
Davies (Arizona State University) and JohnJoe McFadden (The University of
Surrey) have independently suggested that computation in the netherworld of
quantum coherence might explain how the earliest self-replicating molecules
overcame the inestimable odds against them — life’s very existence may be
the consequence and continued operation of a quantum computer. We may
ultimately have to accept our human quest for qubit calculation as a kind of
biomimicry, rather than something new and unique.Quantum biology stands to answer other big questions, as well — questions
that many contemporary biologists prefer to ignore. McFadden, in his
excellent primer Quantum Evolution, cites several experiments that suggest
certain mutations are “intelligent,” even “anticipatory.” For example,
bacterial cultures have been observed to evolve clever responses to lab
toxins at speeds that — just like the emergence of DNA from a primordial
soup — defy astronomical odds. Can biological quantum calculation account
for this? McFadden thinks so. (His hypothesis was itself anticipated in the
science fiction of Greg Egan, whose novel Teranesia featured some very
“spooky” retrocausal mutations — including the instantaneous appearance of
entire new ecosystems via competing future evolutionary scenarios. Whether
such extreme examples of quantum biological principles are possible remains
to be seen.)As we continue to probe biological phenomena that beat quantum computer
scientists to the punch, a new picture emerges of evolutionary computing and
design. Huxley’s prophecy that we will eventually take the reins of our own
evolution might come true sooner than predicted by establishment
geneticists. But by appealing to the quantum oracle, we may be acting in
service of something far older and more intelligent than we can even guess.
Ultrafast computing, accelerated by our explorations into the new science of
quantum biology, could well be the critical technology that pushes us over
the edge into the Singularity — a timeless and transcendent event in which
we already live, because it is the nature of life itself — a vast sentience
beyond human comprehension, and we are merely the newest avenue for its
expression in the world. Classical or quantum, human or ecological, natural
selection still gets the last laugh.June 6, 2009 at 1:19 am #31633StevenModeratorOf course the selection mechanism for choosing
instantaneously amongst a myriad of possible
confluent states is merely consciousness itself.
This is the linchpin that is driving the whole machine.S
June 15, 2009 at 1:16 pm #31635shenchiParticipantWOW! I saw a documentary on Tibetan Medicine not too long ago and in that film a Swedish herb company was studying Tibetan herbs and noticed under scientific study that the plants themselves were giving off light. This led to a realization that all living organisms give off light. I think that this must be catagorized under the same phenomenon that is being talked about in this article. Pretty amazing stuff. I think I also saw somewhere that Biologists were trying to find a way to classify things based on the type, amount, and quality of this light being given off by different plants, animals, and minerals. All in all pretty amazing stuff. Thank you Michael for posting it.
Peace & Tao
Shenchi
June 15, 2009 at 4:48 pm #31637StevenModeratorWhich light are you referring to? Some etheric light?
All objects emit visible light, otherwise we would
not be able to see them. SJune 15, 2009 at 7:29 pm #31639atxryanParticipantWhat was the name of the documentary you watched, Shenchi?
June 16, 2009 at 1:09 am #31641shenchiParticipantS,
I was refering to the light traveling within the plant in this article(see quote below). It sounded similar to something I saw in this documentary that I can’t remember the name of. BTW most things don’t give off visible light they reflect it, unless they are luminesant. Thats why they can’t be seen in the dark. The film I saw said that all organic material gives off photons or light not just reflect it but seeming to produce it. I don’t think that light is visible to the human eye though, because they needed special equipment to see the photons being given off. It was very interesting though.
S“They were trying to establish exactly how organic photosynthesis approaches
95% efficiency, whereas the most sophisticated human solar cells operate at
only half that. What they discovered is nothing short of remarkable. Using
femtosecond lasers to follow the movement of light energy through a
photosynthetic bacterial cell, Engel et al. observed the energy traveling
along every possible direction at the same time. Instead of following a
single trajectory like the electrons on a silicon chip, the energy in
photosynthesis explores all of its options and collapses the quantum process
only after the fact, retroactively “deciding” upon the most efficient
pathway”June 16, 2009 at 1:15 am #31643shenchiParticipantRyan,
I can’t remeber I am trying to find it again. I watched like 3 or 4 tibettan documentaries on netflix back to back like 3 months ago. It was all in tibettan and had english subtitles. As soon as I find the title i will post it because it was a really good film. Kinda dry but very informative. I didn’t know much about Tibettan medicine prior to watching it so it was interesting. Again as soon as I remeber the title I will post it. until then,Peace & Tao
Shenchi
June 16, 2009 at 9:42 am #31645StevenModeratorS,
>>>I was refering to the light traveling within the
>>>plant in this article(see quote below).OK, thanks.
>>>BTW most things don’t give off visible light they reflect it,
>>>unless they are luminesant. Thats why they can’t be seen in the dark.FALSE. Plants are not mirrors.
All objects absorb light and then reemit it.
How much and to what quantity the object emits light
depends upon a number of factors: how much external
light is striking it, what color the object is, what
temperature the object is, whether there is an internal
energy source generating an excess of electromagnetic
radiation in the visible spectrum, etc.This “reflection” concept is a false notion that people
in pop culture say to each other. The only difference
between a luminuous object and one that is not, is the
relative intensity of what is being emitted. If the
amount of light emitted is significantly more than
the surrounding ambient light, then we say the object
is luminescent.Even when it gets dark, oftentimes your eyes will adjust
and you will be able to start to see subtle differences
in the emissions, and thus can see “in the dark”.
Amplifying/modifying these differences are some of the
principles behind certain types of night goggles, heat
scopes, and the like.S
June 16, 2009 at 8:54 pm #31647shenchiParticipantWOW! Cool man, Thanks for the clarification, very very interesting. One question though, don’t luminesants produce certain chemicals to create the light they emit?….Do they still have to gather light to reemit it or is it the chemicals produced that becomes an independent light source? Also does something have to be mirrored to reflect light ? I thought that if light hit an object and couldn’t pass through it it was reflected back in a different direction and that is what our eye’s pick up in order to see what is in front of them. Anyway thanks again for clarifying.
Peace & Tao
ShenchiJune 16, 2009 at 9:09 pm #31649shenchiParticipantRyan,
Hey I found the name of that documentary it’s called “knowledge of healing”. It’s like I said, dry but very interesting. I must of liked it enough to burn a copy because I found a copy of it in my library. Anyway if you watch it let me know what you think.Peace & Tao
ShenchiJune 16, 2009 at 9:48 pm #31651StevenModerator>>>One question though, don’t luminesants produce certain chemicals
>>>to create the light they emit?….Do they still have to gather
>>>light to reemit it or is it the chemicals produced that becomes an independent >>>light source?Oftentimes it is an electrochemical response. Due to certain types
of chemical reactions, the products of these reactions often produce
molecules that naturally have a lower stable energy. The extra energy
therefore is given off in a deexcitation process. Oftentimes this
extra energy is given off in the form of heat, but sometimes it is
given off as light [actually both heat and light are both just forms
of EM radiation]. If an object is emitting more visible light than
what it is receiving, then that energy has to come from somewhere.
In the case of fireflys, say, it is an electrochemical response.
In the case of a red hot poker, it is the temperature difference.>>>Also does something have to be mirrored to reflect light ?
>>>I thought that if light hit an object and couldn’t pass
>>>through it it was reflected back in a different direction
>>>and that is what our eye’s pick up in order to see what
>>>is in front of them.To be perfectly, perfectly honest, even a mirror doesn’t really
reflect light. That’s an early idea of Isaac’s Newton’s when
people were first trying to understand light. However, with a mirror
the reemission is so damn near perfectly identical to what is
striking it, that you may as well call it reflection. In the case
of a mirror, you will never really get into any problems pretending
that light is “reflecting”. This really can *not* be said
of other objects however. In these cases, the light that is
reemitted is drastically different from what is striking it.
For instance, it is very difficult to get a good understanding
of the nature of color if you don’t treat light interaction as
it actually happens (that is, the full spectrum of light strikes
a non-transparent object, the object absorbs the whole spectrum and
absorbs all of it, then the object through a deexcitation process
emits its own spectrum–sometimes completely different from what
was incident).The more accurate description of what is going on is what is necessary
to understand “apparent paradoxes” such as “white light is
the sum of all colors as seen from a prism” but “mixing all colors of
paint in a can yields black”.S
June 16, 2009 at 10:10 pm #31653shenchiParticipantHOLY CRAP! WOW! Thanks Steven. That is crazy and completely alters my perception of light, and actually what you described, though complex, makes much more sense then the idea of reflecting light and actually puts a whole new perspective on absorbing energy in Qi Gung. Wow I’m flabergasted. Thanks.
Shenchi
June 17, 2009 at 9:06 am #31655DogParticipantJune 17, 2009 at 8:20 pm #31657shenchiParticipantAlso Ryan I highly, Highly!, recommend the documentary “Yogi’s of Tibet:a film for posperity”. Really great stuff. Let me know what you think.
S
June 21, 2009 at 2:32 pm #31659atxryanParticipantThanks for the info, Shenchi, i might use one of those netflix trials they send out to watch these movies.
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