Big Brains Could Plants Unlock Quantum Medicine’s Potential? with Greg Engel
Aug 21, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, Greg Engel, a University of Chicago biophysicist and quantum biology pioneer, reveals how plants utilize quantum mechanics for photosynthesis. He explains the remarkable energy efficiency of this process and its potential to revolutionize medicine. Engel shares insights into the development of organic quantum sensors inspired by nature, which could transform disease detection and drug development. Additionally, he highlights the interdisciplinary collaboration needed to harness these findings for advancing both science and healthcare.
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Nature Uses Quantum Tricks
- Plants and bacteria exploit quantum mechanics in photosynthesis to move energy efficiently.
- Studying those evolved design principles can inspire new sensors and technologies.
Look Before You Engineer
- Use ultrafast spectroscopy to reveal dynamics before energy thermalizes.
- Engineer technologies only after you can see the fundamental couplings that drive or hinder them.
Wave-Based Energy Transfer
- Energy transfer in photosynthesis travels as coherent waves, not random hops between sites.
- Protein vibrations couple deterministically to electronic states to steer energy along efficient paths.