• Does life know about quantum mechanics? – Professor Jim Al-Khalili

  • Feb 5 2024
  • Length: 1 hr and 11 mins
  • Podcast

Does life know about quantum mechanics? – Professor Jim Al-Khalili By cover art

Does life know about quantum mechanics? – Professor Jim Al-Khalili

Listen for free

View show details

  • Summary

  • Physicists and chemists are used to dealing with quantum mechanics, but biologists have thus far got away without having to worry about this strange yet powerful theory of the subatomic world. However, times are changing. There is now solid evidence that enzymes use quantum tunnelling to accelerate chemical reactions, while plants and bacteria use a quantum trick in photosynthesis – sending lumps of sunlight energy in multiple directions at once. It even appears that some animals have the ability to use quantum entanglement – what Einstein called “spooky action at a distance” – as a compass to ‘see’ the earth’s magnetic field. In our research at Surrey we are discovering that life may even have evolved mechanisms to control genetic mutations caused by quantum tunnelling of protons between strands of DNA. Welcome to the exciting new field of quantum, biology. Jim Al-Khalili CBE FRS is a distinguished professor of physics at the University of Surrey and a well-known author, broadcast
    Show more Show less
activate_primeday_promo_in_buybox_DT
Show more Show less

What listeners say about Does life know about quantum mechanics? – Professor Jim Al-Khalili

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews

Amazon reviews
No Reviews are Available