For decades, physicists assumed that quantum effects could only exist in a vacuum at absolute zero temperature. They believed that the warm, wet, and messy environment of the human body would destroy any quantum state instantly (decoherence).
The Microtubule Theory
Physicist Sir Roger Penrose and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff have a controversial theory called Orch-OR (Orchestrated Objective Reduction). They argue that consciousness originates from quantum vibrations inside microtubules—tiny protein structures within our brains neurons.
Photosynthesis and Navigation
While the consciousness theory is debated, quantum biology is already proven in other areas. We know that plants use quantum coherence to transfer sunlight energy with near 100% efficiency during photosynthesis. Similarly, European Robins use quantum entanglement in their eyes to see the Earths magnetic field for migration.
If nature has been using quantum tech for millions of years, can we reverse-engineer it to build better organic computers?
Sources: Penrose & Hameroff Review, Physics World.
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