Why Does Quantum Entanglement Defy All Logic? | Secrets Of Quantum Physics | Progress

The video script introduces the viewer to the strange world of quantum biology, where the rules of quantum physics intersect with the natural world. The speaker, a physicist, explains their mission to explore how quantum physics can solve some of the greatest mysteries in biology. The speaker believes that the secrets of life may be hidden in the cells of animals and plants, and that quantum mechanics could be essential in explaining important processes in life and potentially underpin the existence of life itself. The journey begins with the migration of Barnacle Geese, highlighting the recent discovery of how one species of bird navigates using quantum mechanics.

This paragraph delves into the research on how robins navigate using the Earth's magnetic field. The speaker discusses the experiments of biologist Henrik Morrison, who has found that the robin's magnetic compass seems to be located in its eyes. The explanation involves the quantum physics concept of quantum entanglement, where particles can communicate faster than the speed of light. The speaker explains that the robin's chemical compass inside its cells is balanced on an energy peak and that a tiny change in the Earth's magnetic field can tip the balance, triggering the robin's compass. This phenomenon is a fundamentally quantum mechanical process and is one of the first, if not the first, in biology.

In this paragraph, the speaker explores the quantum mechanics behind our sense of smell. The conventional explanation is that the shape of scent molecules fits into receptor molecules in our noses, triggering unique smell sensations. However, the speaker introduces a new quantum theory of smell that suggests our noses are not just detecting chemical molecules, but listening to them. The theory posits that chemical molecules vibrate at different frequencies, and our noses can detect these vibrations, similar to how our ears detect sound. The speaker suggests that this quantum vibrational theory of smell could explain why two molecules with different shapes can smell the same.

The speaker discusses the mystery of metamorphosis, such as the transformation of a tadpole into a frog. The process involves breaking down and reassembling the tadpole's body, which should be impossible given the strength of the chemical bonds holding the flesh together. The speaker introduces the concept of enzymes, which are crucial for accelerating chemical reactions. However, the speed at which enzymes break chemical bonds is too slow to explain the rapid metamorphosis. The speaker then explains that quantum tunneling, where protons can pass through energy barriers, allows enzymes to break chemical bonds much faster, enabling the rapid transformation of a tadpole into a frog.

The speaker discusses the process of photosynthesis, which is crucial for the existence of life on Earth. The initial stage of photosynthesis involves capturing energy from the sun, which is nearly 100% efficient. The speaker explains that the energy from the sun knocks an electron out of a chlorophyll molecule, creating an exciton that needs to find its way to the reaction center in the cell. The speaker introduces the quantum mechanics concept of the uncertainty principle, which suggests that the exciton behaves like a quantum wave, spreading itself out across the cell to explore all possible routes simultaneously, ensuring it finds the fastest way to deliver its energy to the reaction center.

The speaker explores the possibility of quantum mechanics playing a role in evolution. The speaker explains that genetic variation within a species is the driving force behind evolution, as proposed by Charles Darwin. The speaker suggests that quantum tunneling could be a mechanism for mutations, which are changes in the genetic code that introduce variation. The speaker describes an experiment involving bacteria in normal and heavy water to test whether the mutation rate is affected by the weight of the particles involved. The speaker concludes that while quantum tunneling may be a rare form of mutation, the results are promising and could provide a new explanation for one of the most fundamental processes of life.