Physicist Philip Kurian has set a drastically revised upper bound on the computational capacity of carbon-based life, connecting the laws of quantum mechanics to the origins of life and the habitable universe. By applying quantum principles to biological systems, Kurian’s work reveals that life can process information at speeds billions times faster than chemical processes alone.
Kurian’s analysis has drawn attention from researchers in both biology and quantum computing. His findings suggest that superradiant signatures in cytoskeletal filaments could be functioning as quantum fiber optics, allowing eukaryotic cells to process information at unprecedented rates.
The implications of Kurian’s insights are staggering. By thinking of biological information processing primarily at the level of the neuron, scientists overlook the fact that aneural organisms – including bacteria, fungi, and plants – perform sophisticated computations. These organisms constitute the vast majority of Earth’s biomass and have been on our planet for much longer than animals.
Kurian’s predictions provide quantitative bounds on how superradiant living systems enhance planetary computing capacity. The remarkable properties of this signaling and information-processing modality could be a game-changer in the study of habitable exoplanets.
Researchers in quantum computing are also taking notice, as Kurian’s work explores the survival of fragile quantum effects in a “noisy” environment – a crucial aspect for making quantum information technology more resilient. The connection between quantum technology and living systems is growing, with potential applications in fields such as artificial intelligence and exoplanetary research.
Kurian’s work highlights the awe-inspiring complexity and order within life, despite physical laws restricting its behaviors. By applying quantum principles to biological systems, we can gain a deeper understanding of the cosmic story unfolding around us.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-03-physicist-revisits-limits-life-schrdinger.html