Plants thriving with quantum mechanics

From Science Daily, scientists have found that biological system utilise quantum potentials to derive beneficial plant growth.

This and other recent discoveries have captured the attention of researchers for several reasons," says Scholes. "First, it means that quantum mechanical probability laws can prevail over the classical laws of kinetics in this complex biological system, even at normal temperatures. The energy can thereby flow efficiently by -- counter intuitively -- traversing several alternative paths through the antenna proteins simultaneously.

This work follows on from other recent discoveries, "Quantum physics leaps into the visible world." reported in NPR in March this year.

Update (May 11, 2010):

Untangling the Quantum Entanglement Behind Photosynthesis

This is the first study to show that entanglement, perhaps the most distinctive property of quantum mechanical systems, is present across an entire light harvesting complex," says Mohan Sarovar, a post-doctoral researcher under UC Berkeley chemistry professor Birgitta Whaley at the Berkeley Center for Quantum Information and Computation. "While there have been prior investigations of entanglement in toy systems that were motivated by biology, this is the first instance in which entanglement has been examined and quantified in a real biological system."

These discoveries have far reaching implications for everyday experience, particularly in biological research.

They support the message of authors such as Dr Bruce Lipton in his "Biology of Belief", and other scientists who affirm the power of mind to beneficially sway quantum potentials for health and wellbeing.

Implications: The field from which creative insights can be drawn extends beyond limited, egoic thoughts. Alternative parallel pathways are naturally explored in the brain's molecular chemistry to trigger intuitive ah-hahs.

Quantum powered intuition

Some examples of everyday, common situations:

1. 'Glenda' was driving home, but was mindful of needing to pick up a friend from hospital. Due to hopital mobile phone restrictions, and that the friend was undergoing medical tests, she was unable call to check her friend's progress.
   
   As Glenda approached a cross-road, she had the choice of going to the hospital and perhaps having to wait for some time while the tests were completed, or drive home and await a call that she was ready to be picked up.
   As Glenda recounted "I just knew she was ready", but decided to drive home thinking it was the logical, wisest choice.
   
   As she walked in the door at her home, the friend rang (a short while after the cross-road junction). Now she was faced with driving back through peak-hour traffic to return to the hospital. She recognised that intuition was working, but had allowed her rational thinking to over-ride intuitive wisdom.