The Royal Institution
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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Heres what it is.If Quantum Mechanics has always been Quantum it would then be part and or whole of the beginning of the Universe.And if that's the case,. Then the only thing spooky is us.Because all the science and research into Quantum mechanics is to understand what was already there.We just changed the label of the theory.Because for every theory we come up with they,ll be another one to take it,s place.
Is sight not faster than light?If we could travel at the speed of sight.Then that's faster than light.When I look at mars with a telescope I see mars right.So if I could travel as fast as I see then I really can travel faster than light.Right?
English please
Jim! Drop the bow tie!
Johnny Sins is also such a great Physics teacher.
Quantum mechanics is very weird, consciousness is very weird, can a connection be found through biology? Great lecture! Kudos and many thanks to Professor Jim Al-Khalili for a fantastic, fascinating, and highly informative presentation.. Many thanks to the Royal Institution for preparing/posting these. Great job!
Orch OR. Latest findings and discussion please. I need more information.
Here is another way how electrons may potentially be behaving at a quantum level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjKnfWbF6zY&t=1s
I have not read through all 708 comments, so forgive me if someone else as already posted this question: when the magnetic poles flip, what effect can be expected on birds’ migratory patterns?
EXCELLENT…!!
Quantum theory is the basis of everything. A cell A cell, but is nothing more? perhaps nothingness
Nice history lesson!
love the topic very much
.. even though Einstein has described it differently.. n that's how our world works
maybe the electron is being defected by earths magnetic field? ??♂️
i thought of the earths magnetic field a different way, the center would be south and North Pole extended into space, candle flames point north ? (Michael Faraday) ?♂️
when electricity flows through a wire it produces a magnetic field maybe the detector defected the electrons when it was plugged in.? ??♂️ #nobelprize
Sentral Sweden?? Its actually in Norway 😛
invisibility ,quantum entanglement ,quantum tunneling .electrons are invisible yet flows in a wires to cause a bulb lit. .Al AR VR and composition of DNA could be the signs
…or bending stair case to next floor and further to find ultimate reality that governs the multiverse or universes
This guy's understanding of biology is not well reflected here. I don't know him otherwise but this is not an impressive talk unfortunately
It seems totally implausible that evolution with it's trillions and trillions of crazy mutations and experiments never "found a way" to make use of quantum effects.
Very interesting talk!
Fairly watchable, basic guide on the state of quantum physics and it's current understanding as pertaining to biology. However some glaring failures of imagination and lack of genuine integrity were evident.
The terrible and idiotic mistake that physicists make is that they compare what they have to do to see quantum phenomena in action in their laboratories, to natures laboratory, which has had billions of years to perfect it's experiments.
This feeble minded hubris is so disappointingly endemic of the human race and it's flaws.
In particular Al-Khalili's simplistic dismissal of the ORC OR theory of Penrose and Hammeroff was particularly unimpressive.
I have followed the development of this theory around a decade.
It is the only theory that makes predictions that have been confirmed.
It is the strongest theory of consciousness yet extant.
The interrelationship of consciousness and matter is surely no longer a matter of debate, as the Copenhagen interpretation is no doubt evident, and as illustrated so evidently by the rather simplistic and incomplete recounting of the variations on the double slit experiments given here.
I'm not sure what Jim-Al-Khalili is famous for.
But Penrose is a giant in his field, and Hammeroff has devoted his life and considerable expertise to understanding consciousness.
The Orch Or theory has been consistently supported by the latest evidence coming to light over the last decade or more. It is far more coherent and plausible than any other so far, and certainly an improvement on the previous idiotic attempts by the neurologists, AI wannabes and others who simplistically compare the brain to a computer and think that consciousness emerges spontaneously out of enough "on off switches".
Al-Khalilis simplistic dismissal of the theory was a low point in this lecture, but given how obviously the orthodox incumbents of the scientific establishment can't stand the fact that nature is smarter they are, (it did after all, give rise to human intelligence) and resist this reality at every opportunity, perhaps this the best that can be expected at this stage.
I have followed this years, and have yet to see a credible counterargument.
In fact, regards public debates that I have seen, the establishment players of the physics and neuroscience departments embarrass themselves.
They just can't stand that the strongest theory so far comes from outside their clubs.
Dear oh dear, it seems science is indeed prey to the least admirable among human foibles, arrogance, ignorance, tribalism, and hubris.
He does it at least twice. "Just because quantum physics is strange ans "x" is strange doesn't mean they are connected". Quantum physics isn't strange, it is a the fundamental nature of the universe at the sub atomic level. Of course it is at work in biology chemistry and everything else.
Consciousness isn't strange, its just difficult to measure. The relationship between consciousness and matter is evidenced by the observer effect, which is needed to make the bloody maths work, isn't it, Khalil, so how exactly does one thing impact on another if there is no relationship?
I love biology and all things quantum related. I annoy my parents by constantly making them question reality when I decide to spout a random fact.
I hated physics in high school. I esp. had trouble with the concept of spin. I still haven't quite grasped it I think, but I am trying. Listening to lectures like these and similar one on shows like SciShow really makes me want to understand it. And indeed, presenters like Jim make complex science like this accessible and fun. Really really cool!
If I understand the science correctly, quantum entanglement would seem to suggest that faster than light communication is possible.
I like when different disciplines like physics and biology come together to give us a really deep understanding of the world around us and, which is very cool, might also give us an understanding of consciousness. In other words, what makes you you and me me. Something that seems to be an inevitable consequence of how the universe works. This also raises intriguing questions when it comes to emerging field of AI. At what point does a sophisticated emulation of a biological system become truly conscious? I think this is something we need to address rather soon since the science of AI is evolving quite quickly.
The RI truly is a great human treasure. Advancing science through collaboration and playful curiosity
52:18 The hardrogen atom is a new one 4 me. Is that a hydrogen atom that penetrates a receptive molecule?
54:28 "Watson-Krick"? I can't believe he misspelled Crick.
have to have a guess… the electrons ride the crest of invisible electromagnetic waves and get "dispersed and directed" in the same way causing the interference patterns.
when apparatus to measure is energized within the area of the slits, it affects these electromagnetic waves so the electrons can't ride them..
We are all one connected consciousness that experiences continuously, matter is nothing more than observer condensed/lower-frequency energy and the physical multiverse is a very complex material simulation.
It's the wave-particle duality of energy-matter units:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/united-quantum-theory-wave-particle-duality-units-lucica
….cmon Barbie, lets go party…
This is so interesting. I wish I had never abandoned school at a rather young age. There is so much to learn in life.
This is an invitation to see a theory on the physics of light and time that gives us an objective understanding of quantum mechanics.
.oneffunes. If you are not astonished by the structure of God then you know nothing about it! Oneffunes
move the detectors :))
I'm disappointed with how terrible this was.
Light wave can only exist with matter/medium/water/air/glass. Do a new double slit experiment in vacuum, light will not show wave property but act as particle, there will be only two bright lines behind slits on the screen.
Such a great lecture. For someone with no maths or physics but a lifelong (60 years of it!) fascination with physics, cosmology and astronomy, every major aspect of quantum was covered and explained in such a clear and beautiful way for a maths retard, thank you very much indeed Prof Al-Khalili
Biology is reality while physics is virtual abstract…
This attempt at a speech was very sweet.
I will save it in my folder of sweet explanations. 😉
Wonderful lecture! What a bliss to watch Professor Jim. Thank you, Sir, for your input and such a good spin on super difficult and mysterious concept.
Seriously, a lecture super well put together, quantum physics and mechanics are rather difficult to go through and here is a fantastic summary of that crazy particles zoo pictured in the world of biology and all is wrapped into one hour of delicious brain food. Yay!
I have been wondering about the same thing – how could all the models of subatomic particles with its spooky properties explain processes that take place in a cell? Imagine, all the applications based on full understanding and using these principles in biology once we crack that code!
Just a thought: Quality instruction, in my opinion, shows up toward 16:55, in particular, through to about 17:55, in bringing the audience back to the premise, to help bring it all together, again. Neat to bring it linearly back from the molecular level, or whatever, to the visibly physical world, and then back toward the overall effect of how physics affects the biology of the migratory birds being discussed at this point in the lecture. Nice clarity and nice challenge, overall. Thanks for posting. I'm enjoying this very much. Regards to everyone involved.
Well, it turns out that energy is not positive and energy, it is masculine and feminine, because Nature. It answers so much, unlike the strange explanations quantum physics gives. …is peer-review deliberately keeping us dumbed downed? Anyway, here's an example of how this new, yet ancient, perspective answers atomic vibration, gravity, and the attraction that brings life and atoms to create new life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvfnLbG4Cs8
In the mechanism of magnetoreception in birds why radical pair effect takes place in crytochrome only sir rather it can takes place in any protrien in any living being???!!!!!
When the measuring device is turned on, could there be an electro-magnetic field created that causes the first outcome. Then when said measuring device is then off, could the absence of the electro-magnetic field cause the latter result?
People are laughing at them but actually they are laughing at us
GOOD MORNING MR CASTRO CUBA..
This is simple. Atoms are Baptists. They behave themselves when being observed, but when nobody's looking what they do is unpredictable……..
Quantum mechanics feels like one big loophole made by really smart people. Cats fly when they are not being watched, care to disprove? It feels like choosing the wrong path at a fork and pushing thru hoping to get to where you want to go.
"Our minds can travel even faster than speed of light " i.e more than 5lakh.km/sec . Contemplate yourself once you will understand the facts behind it though!