In 1944, Erwin Schrödinger, a theoretical physicist with deep philosophical insights drawn from thinkers like Schopenhauer and the Upanishads, delivered a series of influential lectures at Trinity College, Dublin. These talks, later compiled into a book titled What is Life?, ventured into uncharted territory by exploring the relationship between physics and biology. More than eight decades later, in the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (2025), Philip Kurian, a theoretical physicist and founding director of the Quantum Biology Laboratory (QBL) at Howard University, has made an astonishing contribution to the field.
Kurian’s recent work, published in Science Advances, pushes the boundaries of our understanding of life by integrating quantum mechanics—concepts Schrödinger introduced into the conversation with his earlier work—into the realm of biological systems. Kurian, in collaboration with his team, has set a radically revised upper bound on the computational capacity of carbon-based life forms on Earth. What’s more, his findings suggest that this computational capacity extends beyond Earth’s biosphere, potentially providing new insights into the information-processing capabilities of life in the universe.
Quantum Biology: Connecting Physics and Life
The crux of Kurian’s research lies in an unexpected intersection between quantum mechanics, biology, and information theory. At first glance, quantum mechanics—particularly the phenomenon of superradiance, which is a quantum effect—appears to have little to do with living organisms. Quantum mechanics, after all, is often thought to apply only at microscopic scales and in carefully controlled, low-temperature environments, such as those needed for quantum computers. Biological systems, in contrast, are warm, dynamic, and chaotic—an environment seemingly hostile to quantum behavior.
However, Kurian’s lab made a groundbreaking discovery last year when they observed a quantum effect in protein polymers that exist in an aqueous solution, surviving the hostile biological conditions of warmth and chaos at the micron scale. This discovery, which suggests that quantum processes can occur in biological systems even at ambient temperatures, has wide-reaching implications. Not only does it suggest that quantum mechanics plays a role in the biological processes of life on Earth, but it could also help us rethink the relationship between life and quantum physics.
Kurian’s latest paper connects quantum information processing with biological systems at a new scale. His work suggests that all eukaryotic organisms—those with complex cells containing nuclei, like humans, animals, and plants—could use quantum signals for information processing. This revelation opens up fresh avenues of research in quantum biology, a field that explores how quantum effects influence biological systems in ways previously thought impossible.
Quantum Superradiance and the Role of Tryptophan in Biology
One of the key components driving Kurian’s hypothesis is tryptophan, an amino acid found in many proteins. Tryptophan absorbs ultraviolet (UV) light and re-emits it at a longer wavelength, a process known as fluorescence. This property becomes particularly significant in biological systems when large networks of tryptophan form in structures like microtubules, amyloid fibrils, transmembrane receptors, and other essential cellular complexes. These networks, according to Kurian’s findings, are more than just a mechanism for light absorption and emission; they play a critical role in quantum information processing.
The central concept here is superradiance—a phenomenon where light emitted by an ensemble of atoms (or, in this case, tryptophan molecules) becomes more intense and coherent over time. Superradiance typically occurs in quantum systems that are tightly coupled, where the photons emitted can synchronize, creating a collective emission of energy that is far more powerful than individual emissions. In the context of biology, superradiance in the cytoskeletal filaments of eukaryotic cells allows them to process information much faster than traditional biochemical signaling processes.
In standard biochemical signaling, ions move across membranes, triggering electrochemical signals that propagate in a few milliseconds. However, the superradiant processes discovered by Kurian’s team occur on the scale of picoseconds—one-millionth of a microsecond. This rapid signaling process allows cells to communicate and process information much more efficiently, potentially enabling faster decision-making within the complex networks that make up living organisms.
Quantum Information Processing: More Than Just Biochemical Signaling
The standard model of biological signaling—primarily based on the movement of ions and the electrochemical gradients that form across cell membranes—has long been the foundation of neuroscience and cellular biology. However, Kurian’s work reveals that this model omits a crucial layer of information processing. In his analysis, he proposes that superradiance in biological systems is not merely a quirky side effect but a fundamental aspect of how life processes information at a quantum level.
The study demonstrates that tryptophan networks in eukaryotic cells function as a form of “quantum fiber optics.” These networks, able to manipulate photons on incredibly short time scales, give cells the ability to process information billions of times faster than previously understood. This discovery raises the possibility that quantum biology could revolutionize not just our understanding of living organisms but also the future of quantum computing itself.
Expanding Our Understanding of Life Beyond Earth
One of the most profound implications of Kurian’s research is its potential to influence the search for life beyond Earth. By applying quantum information processing models to biological systems, Kurian offers a new way to think about how life could arise on other planets. Just as life on Earth has evolved to use quantum processes for information processing, similar systems could exist on other habitable exoplanets. The discovery that quantum effects play a role in the fundamental processes of life could dramatically shift our approach to astrobiology.
In his paper, Kurian connects the dots between the evolution of life on Earth and the fundamental laws of physics, drawing comparisons to the electromagnetic field that permeates the universe. He suggests that understanding how quantum effects influence life at ambient temperatures could help researchers identify potential signs of life elsewhere in the cosmos. The same quantum properties that make life on Earth possible may be key to detecting life on distant planets or moons within our solar system.
Quantum Biology and the Future of Quantum Computing
Kurian’s work has also caught the attention of quantum computing researchers. In particular, the idea that quantum effects can survive in a noisy, biological environment challenges the way quantum information scientists think about the resilience of quantum systems. Quantum computers, which rely on the manipulation of quantum bits (qubits), typically require extremely cold environments to function. However, biological systems demonstrate that quantum properties, such as superradiance, can function in warm, wet environments like those found inside living cells.
For quantum computing researchers, Kurian’s work offers new insights into how to make quantum systems more resilient. The survival of quantum information processing in biological systems could lead to breakthroughs in creating more stable and efficient quantum technologies. As Kurian notes, “It’s awe-inspiring that we get to play such a role” in understanding and harnessing the quantum properties that underpin life.
A New Vision of Life and the Universe
Kurian’s groundbreaking work, which bridges the gap between quantum mechanics, biology, and information theory, offers a radically new perspective on the relationship between life and the physical universe. By uncovering the quantum properties at play in the fundamental processes of life, he opens up new frontiers in both biological science and quantum technology.
As we move forward into the era of quantum science and technology, Kurian’s research promises to reshape our understanding of life on Earth and beyond. With quantum biology poised to influence fields ranging from neuroscience to space exploration, Kurian’s insights are just the beginning of a revolution in how we understand the very essence of life and its place in the universe.
Reference: Philip Kurian, Computational Capacity of Life in Relation to the Universe, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adt4623. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt4623