[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.19,0:00:05.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'd like to introduce you\Nto an emerging area of science,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.74,0:00:09.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one that is still speculative\Nbut hugely exciting,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.71,0:00:12.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and certainly one\Nthat's growing very rapidly.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.45,0:00:17.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum biology\Nasks a very simple question:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.52,0:00:18.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Does quantum mechanics --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.89,0:00:22.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that weird and wonderful\Nand powerful theory
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.22,0:00:24.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the subatomic world\Nof atoms and molecules
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.93,0:00:28.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that underpins so much\Nof modern physics and chemistry --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.44,0:00:31.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,also play a role inside the living cell?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.88,0:00:35.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In other words: Are there processes,\Nmechanisms, phenomena
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.98,0:00:39.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in living organisms\Nthat can only be explained
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.100,0:00:42.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a helping hand\Nfrom quantum mechanics?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.55,0:00:45.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, quantum biology isn't new;
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.21,0:00:47.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's been around since the early 1930s.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.93,0:00:51.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's only in the last decade or so\Nthat careful experiments --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.67,0:00:55.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in biochemistry labs,\Nusing spectroscopy --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.16,0:01:02.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have shown very clear, firm evidence\Nthat there are certain specific mechanisms
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.04,0:01:04.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that require quantum mechanics\Nto explain them.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.67,0:01:09.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum biology brings together\Nquantum physicists, biochemists,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.03,0:01:12.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,molecular biologists --\Nit's a very interdisciplinary field.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.69,0:01:16.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I come from quantum physics,\Nso I'm a nuclear physicist.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.64,0:01:18.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've spent more than three decades
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.93,0:01:21.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to get my head\Naround quantum mechanics.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.89,0:01:24.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the founders\Nof quantum mechanics, Niels Bohr,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.40,0:01:27.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,said, If you're not astonished by it,\Nthen you haven't understood it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.24,0:01:31.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I sort of feel happy\Nthat I'm still astonished by it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.10,0:01:32.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's a good thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.87,0:01:39.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it means I study the very\Nsmallest structures in the universe --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.78,0:01:41.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the building blocks of reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.88,0:01:45.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we think about the scale of size,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.12,0:01:48.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,start with an everyday object\Nlike the tennis ball,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.10,0:01:50.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and just go down orders\Nof magnitude in size --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.02,0:01:56.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the eye of a needle down to a cell,\Ndown to a bacterium, down to an enzyme --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.24,0:01:57.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you eventually reach the nano-world.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.100,0:02:00.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, nanotechnology may be\Na term you've heard of.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.84,0:02:03.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A nanometer is a billionth of a meter.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.56,0:02:08.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My area is the atomic nucleus,\Nwhich is the tiny dot inside an atom.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.95,0:02:10.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's even smaller in scale.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.91,0:02:12.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the domain of quantum mechanics,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.85,0:02:15.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and physicists and chemists\Nhave had a long time
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.39,0:02:16.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to try and get used to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.25,0:02:21.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Biologists, on the other hand,\Nhave got off lightly, in my view.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.07,0:02:26.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are very happy with their\Nballs-and-sticks models of molecules.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.43,0:02:27.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.53,0:02:30.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The balls are the atoms, the sticks\Nare the bonds between the atoms.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.75,0:02:33.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when they can't build them\Nphysically in the lab,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.27,0:02:35.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nowadays, they have\Nvery powerful computers
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.69,0:02:37.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that will simulate a huge molecule.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.68,0:02:41.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a protein made up\Nof 100,000 atoms.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.00,0:02:46.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It doesn't really require much in the way\Nof quantum mechanics to explain it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.70,0:02:50.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum mechanics\Nwas developed in the 1920s.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.96,0:02:57.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is a set of beautiful and powerful\Nmathematical rules and ideas
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.87,0:03:00.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that explain the world of the very small.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.50,0:03:03.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's a world that's very different\Nfrom our everyday world,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.90,0:03:05.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,made up of trillions of atoms.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.44,0:03:08.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a world built\Non probability and chance.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.82,0:03:11.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a fuzzy world.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.14,0:03:12.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a world of phantoms,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.90,0:03:16.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where particles can also behave\Nlike spread-out waves.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.16,0:03:21.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we imagine quantum mechanics\Nor quantum physics, then,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.04,0:03:26.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the fundamental\Nfoundation of reality itself,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.28,0:03:28.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then it's not surprising that we say
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.04,0:03:30.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quantum physics underpins\Norganic chemistry.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.48,0:03:32.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After all, it gives us\Nthe rules that tell us
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.62,0:03:35.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how the atoms fit together\Nto make organic molecules.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.29,0:03:38.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Organic chemistry,\Nscaled up in complexity,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.55,0:03:41.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gives us molecular biology,\Nwhich of course leads to life itself.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.17,0:03:44.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in a way, it's sort of not surprising.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.18,0:03:45.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's almost trivial.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.41,0:03:49.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You say, "Well, of course life ultimately\Nmust depend of quantum mechanics."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.14,0:03:52.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But so does everything else.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.56,0:03:56.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So does all inanimate matter,\Nmade up of trillions of atoms.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.50,0:04:01.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ultimately, there's a quantum level
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.40,0:04:03.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where we have to delve into\Nthis weirdness.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.61,0:04:06.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in everyday life,\Nwe can forget about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.40,0:04:09.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because once you put together\Ntrillions of atoms,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.63,0:04:12.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that quantum weirdness\Njust dissolves away.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.29,0:04:17.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum biology isn't about this.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.88,0:04:20.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum biology isn't this obvious.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.46,0:04:24.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course quantum mechanics\Nunderpins life at some molecular level.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.25,0:04:31.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum biology is about looking\Nfor the non-trivial --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.28,0:04:35.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the counterintuitive ideas\Nin quantum mechanics --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.78,0:04:38.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to see if they do, indeed,\Nplay an important role
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.82,0:04:41.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in describing the processes of life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.65,0:04:47.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here is my perfect example\Nof the counterintuitiveness
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.90,0:04:49.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the quantum world.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.37,0:04:50.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the quantum skier.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.64,0:04:53.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He seems to be intact,\Nhe seems to be perfectly healthy,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.31,0:04:57.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yet, he seems to have gone around\Nboth sides of that tree at the same time.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.46,0:04:59.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, if you saw tracks like that
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.14,0:05:01.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you'd guess it was some\Nsort of stunt, of course.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.48,0:05:04.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in the quantum world,\Nthis happens all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.86,0:05:07.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Particles can multitask,\Nthey can be in two places at once.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.91,0:05:10.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can do more than one thing\Nat the same time.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.27,0:05:12.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Particles can behave\Nlike spread-out waves.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.30,0:05:14.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's almost like magic.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.54,0:05:18.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Physicists and chemists have had\Nnearly a century
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.31,0:05:20.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of trying to get used to this weirdness.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.44,0:05:22.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't blame the biologists
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.82,0:05:25.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for not having to or wanting\Nto learn quantum mechanics.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.48,0:05:28.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, this weirdness is very delicate;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.70,0:05:33.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we physicists work very hard\Nto maintain it in our labs.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.17,0:05:37.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We cool our system down\Nto near absolute zero,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.40,0:05:39.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we carry out our experiments in vacuums,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.37,0:05:42.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we try and isolate it\Nfrom any external disturbance.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.60,0:05:48.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's very different from the warm,\Nmessy, noisy environment of a living cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.96,0:05:52.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Biology itself, if you think of\Nmolecular biology,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.77,0:05:56.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seems to have done very well\Nin describing all the processes of life
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.25,0:05:58.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in terms of chemistry --\Nchemical reactions.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.76,0:06:03.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And these are reductionist,\Ndeterministic chemical reactions,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.64,0:06:08.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,showing that, essentially, life is made\Nof the same stuff as everything else,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.77,0:06:11.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if we can forget about quantum\Nmechanics in the macro world,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.86,0:06:15.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then we should be able to forget\Nabout it in biology, as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.71,0:06:19.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, one man begged\Nto differ with this idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.06,0:06:23.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Erwin Schrödinger,\Nof Schrödinger's Cat fame,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.56,0:06:24.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was an Austrian physicist.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.90,0:06:28.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was one of the founders\Nof quantum mechanics in the 1920s.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.66,0:06:31.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 1944, he wrote a book\Ncalled "What is Life?"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.84,0:06:33.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was tremendously influential.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.59,0:06:36.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It influenced Francis Crick\Nand James Watson,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.50,0:06:39.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the discoverers of the double-helix\Nstructure of DNA.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.34,0:06:43.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To paraphrase a description\Nin the book, he says:
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.04,0:06:48.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At the molecular level,\Nliving organisms have a certain order,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.84,0:06:52.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a structure to them that's very different
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.10,0:06:56.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the random thermodynamic jostling\Nof atoms and molecules
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.86,0:07:00.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in inanimate matter\Nof the same complexity.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.50,0:07:06.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, living matter seems to behave\Nin this order, in a structure,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.54,0:07:10.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just like inanimate matter\Ncooled down to near absolute zero,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.40,0:07:13.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where quantum effects\Nplay a very important role.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.28,0:07:18.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's something special\Nabout the structure -- the order --
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.46,0:07:20.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,inside a living cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.05,0:07:25.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, Schrödinger speculated that maybe\Nquantum mechanics plays a role in life.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.10,0:07:29.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a very speculative,\Nfar-reaching idea,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.54,0:07:32.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it didn't really go very far.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.54,0:07:35.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as I mentioned at the start,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.09,0:07:37.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the last 10 years, there have been\Nexperiments emerging,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.92,0:07:41.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,showing where some of these\Ncertain phenomena in biology
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.100,0:07:43.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do seem to require quantum mechanics.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.78,0:07:46.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to share with you\Njust a few of the exciting ones.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.22,0:07:51.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is one of the best-known\Nphenomena in the quantum world,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.95,0:07:53.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quantum tunneling.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.67,0:07:58.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The box on the left shows\Nthe wavelike, spread-out distribution
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.08,0:08:00.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of a quantum entity --\Na particle, like an electron,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.87,0:08:04.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is not a little ball\Nbouncing off a wall.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.53,0:08:09.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a wave that has a certain probability\Nof being able to permeate
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.29,0:08:12.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through a solid wall, like a phantom\Nleaping through to the other side.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.72,0:08:16.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can see a faint smudge of light\Nin the right-hand box.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.77,0:08:22.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum tunneling suggests that a particle\Ncan hit an impenetrable barrier,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.41,0:08:24.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yet somehow, as though by magic,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.89,0:08:27.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,disappear from one side\Nand reappear on the other.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.66,0:08:31.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The nicest way of explaining it is\Nif you want to throw a ball over a wall,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.93,0:08:35.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have to give it enough energy\Nto get over the top of the wall.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.53,0:08:38.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the quantum world,\Nyou don't have to throw it over the wall,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.62,0:08:42.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can throw it at the wall,\Nand there's a certain non-zero probability
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.05,0:08:45.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it'll disappear on your side,\Nand reappear on the other.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.39,0:08:47.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This isn't speculation, by the way.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.10,0:08:50.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're happy -- well, "happy"\Nis not the right word --
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.52,0:08:52.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.58,0:08:54.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are familiar with this.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.23,0:08:56.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.100,0:08:59.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum tunneling\Ntakes place all the time;
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.31,0:09:01.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in fact, it's the reason our sun shines.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.66,0:09:04.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The particles fuse together,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.19,0:09:07.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the Sun turns hydrogen\Ninto helium through quantum tunneling.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.46,0:09:14.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Back in the 70s and 80s, it was discovered\Nthat quantum tunneling also takes place
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.71,0:09:15.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,inside living cells.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.29,0:09:22.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Enzymes, those workhorses of life,\Nthe catalysts of chemical reactions --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.58,0:09:26.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,enzymes are biomolecules that speed up\Nchemical reactions in living cells,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.77,0:09:28.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by many, many orders of magnitude.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.50,0:09:31.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's always been a mystery\Nhow they do this.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.65,0:09:32.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it was discovered
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.86,0:09:37.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that one of the tricks that enzymes\Nhave evolved to make use of,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.74,0:09:42.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is by transferring subatomic particles,\Nlike electrons and indeed protons,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.99,0:09:47.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from one part of a molecule\Nto another via quantum tunneling.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.33,0:09:51.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's efficient, it's fast,\Nit can disappear --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.21,0:09:54.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a proton can disappear from one place,\Nand reappear on the other.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.34,0:09:55.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Enzymes help this take place.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.55,0:09:59.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is research that's been\Ncarried out back in the 80s,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.26,0:10:03.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,particularly by a group\Nin Berkeley, Judith Klinman.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.32,0:10:05.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Other groups in the UK\Nhave now also confirmed
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.54,0:10:06.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that enzymes really do this.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.05,0:10:11.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Research carried out by my group --
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.62,0:10:14.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so as I mentioned,\NI'm a nuclear physicist,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.08,0:10:17.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I've realized I've got these tools\Nof using quantum mechanics
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.16,0:10:22.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in atomic nuclei, and so can apply\Nthose tools in other areas as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.40,0:10:25.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One question we asked
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.24,0:10:29.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is whether quantum tunneling\Nplays a role in mutations in DNA.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.84,0:10:33.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Again, this is not a new idea;\Nit goes all the way back to the early 60s.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.53,0:10:36.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The two strands of DNA,\Nthe double-helix structure,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.51,0:10:39.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are held together by rungs;\Nit's like a twisted ladder.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.36,0:10:42.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And those rungs of the ladder\Nare hydrogen bonds --
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.89,0:10:46.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,protons, that act as the glue\Nbetween the two strands.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.70,0:10:51.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if you zoom in, what they're doing\Nis holding these large molecules --
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.48,0:10:53.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nucleotides -- together.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.13,0:10:55.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Zoom in a bit more.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.30,0:10:57.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, this a computer simulation.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.86,0:11:01.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The two white balls\Nin the middle are protons,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.42,0:11:03.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you can see that\Nit's a double hydrogen bond.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.74,0:11:07.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One prefers to sit on one side;\Nthe other, on the other side
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.08,0:11:11.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the two strands of the vertical lines\Ngoing down, which you can't see.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.41,0:11:15.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It can happen that\Nthese two protons can hop over.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.83,0:11:17.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Watch the two white balls.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.75,0:11:19.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can jump over to the other side.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.24,0:11:25.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If the two strands of DNA then separate,\Nleading to the process of replication,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.91,0:11:29.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the two protons\Nare in the wrong positions,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.13,0:11:30.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this can lead to a mutation.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.20,0:11:33.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This has been known for half a century.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.10,0:11:35.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The question is: How likely\Nare they to do that,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.47,0:11:37.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if they do, how do they do it?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.87,0:11:40.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do they jump across,\Nlike the ball going over the wall?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.91,0:11:44.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or can they quantum-tunnel across,\Neven if they don't have enough energy?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.09,0:11:49.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Early indications suggest that\Nquantum tunneling can play a role here.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.36,0:11:51.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We still don't know yet\Nhow important it is;
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.51,0:11:53.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is still an open question.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.20,0:11:55.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's speculative,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.37,0:11:58.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's one of those questions\Nthat is so important
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.04,0:12:00.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if quantum mechanics\Nplays a role in mutations,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.51,0:12:02.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,surely this must have big implications,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.83,0:12:05.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to understand certain types of mutations,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.55,0:12:09.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,possibly even those that lead\Nto turning a cell cancerous.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.80,0:12:16.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another example of quantum mechanics\Nin biology is quantum coherence,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.13,0:12:18.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in one of the most\Nimportant processes in biology,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.50,0:12:22.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,photosynthesis: plants\Nand bacteria taking sunlight,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.47,0:12:25.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and using that energy to create biomass.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.22,0:12:30.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum coherence is the idea\Nof quantum entities multitasking.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.91,0:12:32.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the quantum skier.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.54,0:12:35.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's an object that behaves like a wave,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.52,0:12:38.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that it doesn't just move\Nin one direction or the other,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.44,0:12:41.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but can follow multiple pathways\Nat the same time.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.71,0:12:46.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some years ago,\Nthe world of science was shocked
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.65,0:12:50.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when a paper was published\Nshowing experimental evidence
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.26,0:12:54.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that quantum coherence\Ntakes place inside bacteria,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.06,0:12:55.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,carrying out photosynthesis.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:55.77,0:12:58.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The idea is that the photon,\Nthe particle of light, the sunlight,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.85,0:13:02.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the quantum of light\Ncaptured by a chlorophyll molecule,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.22,0:13:04.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is then delivered to what's called\Nthe reaction center,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.84,0:13:06.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it can be turned into\Nchemical energy.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.92,0:13:09.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in getting there,\Nit doesn't just follow one route;
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.60,0:13:11.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it follows multiple pathways at once,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.84,0:13:16.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to optimize the most efficient way\Nof reaching the reaction center
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.20,0:13:17.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without dissipating as waste heat.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.23,0:13:22.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum coherence taking place\Ninside a living cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.56,0:13:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A remarkable idea,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:24.70,0:13:30.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yet evidence is growing almost weekly,\Nwith new papers coming out,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.96,0:13:33.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,confirming that this\Ndoes indeed take place.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.56,0:13:38.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My third and final example\Nis the most beautiful, wonderful idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.32,0:13:42.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's also still very speculative,\Nbut I have to share it with you.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.40,0:13:47.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The European robin\Nmigrates from Scandinavia
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.04,0:13:49.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down to the Mediterranean, every autumn,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:49.70,0:13:53.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and like a lot of other\Nmarine animals and even insects,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.10,0:13:57.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they navigate by sensing\Nthe Earth's magnetic field.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.97,0:14:01.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the Earth's magnetic field\Nis very, very weak;
Dialogue: 0,0:14:01.42,0:14:03.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's 100 times weaker\Nthan a fridge magnet,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.52,0:14:09.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yet it affects the chemistry --\Nsomehow -- within a living organism.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.93,0:14:13.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's not in doubt --\Na German couple of ornithologists,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.76,0:14:18.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wolfgang and Roswitha Wiltschko,\Nin the 1970s, confirmed that indeed,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.05,0:14:22.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the robin does find its way by somehow\Nsensing the Earth's magnetic field,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.05,0:14:25.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to give it directional information --\Na built-in compass.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:25.40,0:14:27.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The puzzle, the mystery was:\NHow does it do it?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:28.35,0:14:31.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, the only theory in town --
Dialogue: 0,0:14:31.40,0:14:34.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we don't know if it's the correct theory,\Nbut the only theory in town --
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.86,0:14:37.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that it does it via something\Ncalled quantum entanglement.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.57,0:14:40.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Inside the robin's retina --
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.96,0:14:45.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I kid you not -- inside the robin's retina\Nis a protein called cryptochrome,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.22,0:14:46.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is light-sensitive.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:46.62,0:14:50.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Within cryptochrome, a pair of electrons\Nare quantum-entangled.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:50.59,0:14:53.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, quantum entanglement\Nis when two particles are far apart,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.84,0:14:56.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yet somehow remain\Nin contact with each other.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:56.99,0:14:58.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even Einstein hated this idea;
Dialogue: 0,0:14:58.46,0:15:00.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he called it "spooky action\Nat a distance."
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.52,0:15:02.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:15:02.43,0:15:05.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if Einstein doesn't like it,\Nthen we can all be uncomfortable with it.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:05.90,0:15:08.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two quantum-entangled electrons\Nwithin a single molecule
Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.77,0:15:10.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dance a delicate dance
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.27,0:15:12.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is very sensitive\Nto the direction the bird flies
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.83,0:15:14.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Earth's magnetic field.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:14.85,0:15:17.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We don't know if it's\Nthe correct explanation,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:17.48,0:15:22.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but wow, wouldn't it be exciting\Nif quantum mechanics helps birds navigate?
Dialogue: 0,0:15:23.07,0:15:25.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum biology is still in it infancy.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:25.81,0:15:29.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's still speculative.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:29.74,0:15:33.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I believe it's built on solid science.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:33.92,0:15:37.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I also think that\Nin the coming decade or so,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:37.75,0:15:42.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're going to start to see\Nthat actually, it pervades life --
Dialogue: 0,0:15:42.62,0:15:47.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that life has evolved tricks\Nthat utilize the quantum world.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:48.03,0:15:49.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Watch this space.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:49.48,0:15:50.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:50.66,0:15:52.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)