Science

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts) Fri Jun 21, 2013, 10:07 AM Jun 2013

Plants 'seen doing quantum physics'

The idea that plants make use of quantum physics to harvest light more efficiently has received a boost.

Plants gather packets of light called photons, shuttling them deep into their cells where their energy is converted with extraordinary efficiency.

A report in Science journal adds weight to the idea that an effect called a "coherence" helps determine the most efficient path for the photons.

Experts have called the work "a nice proof" of some contentious ideas.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22996054

5 replies

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Highlight:

Plants 'seen doing quantum physics' (Original Post) dipsydoodle Jun 2013 OP

Smarty plants nt Xipe Totec Jun 2013 #1

Duzy. dixiegrrrrl Jun 2013 #2

lol dipsydoodle Jun 2013 #3

Best take away from that fascinating article: dixiegrrrrl Jun 2013 #4

Haha! NiR nails it: napoleon_in_rags Jun 2013 #5

Xipe Totec

(43,890 posts)

1. Smarty plants nt

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 10:22 AM

Jun 2013

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)

2. Duzy.

Reply to Xipe Totec (Reply #1)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 10:25 AM

Jun 2013

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)

3. lol

Reply to Xipe Totec (Reply #1)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 10:25 AM

Jun 2013

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)

4. Best take away from that fascinating article:

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 10:41 AM

Jun 2013

The fact that plants and animals are extremely warm and soft by comparison would suggest that delicate quantum states should disappear in living things..........
"Nature is very robust at keeping this up no matter what happens - this for me is something shocking,"

That is more revealing of the scientists world view than that of Mother Nature.

napoleon_in_rags

(3,991 posts)

5. Haha! NiR nails it:

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Sat Jun 22, 2013, 12:14 AM

Jun 2013

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1228&pid=18259

We've been told quantum effects can't have meaningful effects in systems as large scale as biological entities, but here's the proof they do. Quantum effects, with all their magic, play into systems as complex as ourselves. The future of science is VERY exciting, and we are still VERY very much in a world of mystery, and the answers that are coming from science as the future unfolds I think are going to shock us all. Just as we didn't have it all figured out in previous centuries, we also don't have it figured out now. Good stuff to come! That's always a good bet with science...

Peace

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