Qubit Generation in Living Cells Using Fluorescent Proteins for Quantum Biology Advancement.
For a long time, quantum physics and biology seemed like distant worlds. However, a group of researchers has demonstrated that a fluorescent protein can function as a qubit inside mammalian and bacterial cells. This not only confirms that the quantum can inhabit the living, but also inaugurates a hybrid discipline with revolutionary implications.
### The protein that shone as a qubit
Fluorescent proteins have been essential tools for visualizing biological processes in real time. The Chicago team discovered that the protein has an electronic state – known as the triplet state – that allows its electrons to behave like a qubit. Through laser and microwave pulses, they managed to manipulate this state and maintain its coherence for 16 microseconds, a notable achievement considering the chaotic environment of a living cell.
### How an impossible phenomenon was measured
They used a confocal microscope adapted to excite the protein with lasers of different wavelengths. This procedure confirmed quantum oscillations and coherence times, even within mammalian cells. Until now, maintaining a stable qubit required extreme laboratory conditions. Here, on the other hand, it was achieved in a real biological environment, opening up a new window to applied quantum biology.
### A future of quantum sensors in cells
The main promise is to convert these proteins into intracellular quantum sensors. They could record magnetic fields, electric fields, or biochemical processes with unprecedented precision. Possible applications include studying the folding of proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases, gene expression, or the direct action of drugs in living cells. Although their sensitivity is lower than that of diamond-based qubits, their natural integration into living organisms makes them a versatile and revolutionary tool.
The challenges are not minor: protein photodegradation and low spin readout efficiency are technical barriers that still need to be overcome. However, researchers are confident that protein engineering techniques can optimize their properties. The impact is profound: a common protein in cell biology has become the protagonist of an experiment that redefines what we understand by a qubit. With this, quantum biology ceases to be speculation and becomes an experimental science, capable of revealing the invisible in the heart of cells.
