Information source:
https://phys.org/news/2025-09-scientist-microbial-roots-potential-quantum.html
When global tech giants invest billions of dollars in building quantum computers that require extreme low-temperature environments, nature has long demonstrated a more elegant solution in the aerobic environment deep in the earth. A breakthrough study published by the team of Yale University scientist Nikil Malwanka in Physical and Chemical Letters shows that certain bacteria can achieve ultra-efficient electron transmission through quantum effects at room temperature. This discovery is expected to completely change the technological path of quantum technology development and provide new ideas for solving the cost and practical problems faced by current quantum computing.
The importance of this study is that it challenges the fundamental assumptions of the scientific community for a long time. Traditionally, the quantum effect is extremely fragile and can only be maintained in extreme environments near absolute zero. Existing quantum computers need to operate at temperatures of around minus 273 degrees Celsius, which requires complex and expensive dilution refrigerator systems, and the cost of a single device can reach tens of millions of dollars. More importantly, maintaining this extremely low temperature requires continuous huge energy consumption, which puts huge obstacles in the commercial application of quantum computing.
Nikil Malwanka. Image source: Jon Atherton
Marvanka's team discovered that specific bacteria living in underground hypoxic environments have evolved a sophisticated quantum transmission system. Through a filamentous structure of protein called "nanowires", these microorganisms can transport electrons produced during metabolism to 100 times far from their cell bodies. The researchers figuratively call this phenomenon the "snorkeling" behavior of bacteria because they are able to "breathe" in an environment without oxygen, converting organic waste into available electricity.
Cognitive Leap from Classical Physics to the Quantum World
The scientific significance of this discovery is far beyond superficial phenomena. Malvanka's academic experience reflects the importance of interdisciplinary integration in modern scientific research. The scientist from Mumbai, India, focused on quantum mechanics and superconductor research while pursuing his PhD at the University of Massachusetts, and later turned to the field of biology to specialize in microbial survival mechanisms in extreme environments. It is this intersection of physics and biology that allows him to examine the electron transport phenomenon of bacteria from a completely new perspective.
Initially, the research team tried to use traditional biological theories to explain the high-speed transmission of electrons in nanowires, but there was a huge gap between theoretical calculations and experimental observations. According to classic Newtonian mechanics, electrons should gradually "bounce" through protein structures like tennis balls, but this mechanism is completely unable to explain the observed transmission speed. Faced with the conflict between theory and experiment, Malvanka realized that he had to return to the framework of quantum physics to find the answer.
In collaboration with Professor William Parsons of the University of Washington and former Yale PhD student Peter Dahl, the team uses advanced spectroscopy techniques to deeply analyze electronic behavior. The key finding is that the fluctuation frequency of proteins is about one million times slower than the fluctuation frequency of electrons. This huge frequency difference shows that electrons are not transmitted through particle-like "jump", but are propagated in the form of waves.
This quantum-coherent electron transmission allows electrons to explore multiple transmission paths at the same time and automatically select the optimal route to achieve rapid propagation. What is even more surprising is that this quantum effect remains stable under room temperature environments and does not require the extreme low temperature conditions required by traditional quantum systems. The research team described this phenomenon as the first quantum mechanical effect observed during biological respiration, which is of revolutionary significance to the fields of quantum sensing and computing.
Bio-inspired technological revolution prospects
The discovery of bacterial nanowires has opened up a new path for the development of quantum technology. If the molecular mechanisms in which these microorganisms maintain quantum coherence can be understood and simulated, it is possible to develop quantum devices that operate at or near room temperature. This will fundamentally change the cost structure of quantum computing, allowing quantum technology to go out of expensive laboratory environments and enter a wider range of commercial application scenarios.
The main bottleneck facing the current quantum computing industry is the extreme conditions required to maintain quantum coherence. In addition to the high equipment costs, quantum computers also require complex control systems to withstand environmental interference, and any slight vibration, electromagnetic fluctuations, or temperature changes can destroy fragile quantum states. The stable quantum transmission mechanism displayed by bacterial nanowires provides biological inspiration for overcoming these technical obstacles.
Bio-inspired quantum technology may also have a significant impact in the field of quantum sensors. The stable quantum coherence of bacterial nanowires can provide design principles for the development of new quantum sensors, which have huge application potential in medical imaging, geological exploration, navigation and positioning. Room temperature quantum sensors are not only cheaper, but also easier to integrate into portable devices, greatly expanding the scope of applications.
From a more macro perspective, this discovery reflects the great value of bionics in the field of high technology. Nature has evolved over billions of years and can often provide elegant and simple solutions to complex technical problems. Malvanka pointed out that "nature often provides very simple solutions to complex problems". The ability of bacteria to achieve efficient quantum electron transmission at room temperature is a exquisite design evolved under harsh natural selection.
The discovery of this biomass system has also opened up new directions for synthetic biology and bioengineering. Researchers may use genetic engineering or protein design methods to modify or create biological systems with quantum-like transmission functions. These "bioquantum devices" are not only valuable in the fields of computing and sensing, but may also play an important role in bioenergy, environmental restoration, biomanufacturing and other fields.
Innovative significance of scientific research methods
Marvanka's research history typically reflects the importance of interdisciplinary integration in modern science. The boundaries of traditional disciplines are becoming increasingly blurred, and the most important scientific breakthroughs often appear at the intersections of different disciplines. The fusion of traditional disciplines such as physics, biology, chemistry, and materials science has given birth to emerging interdisciplinary fields such as quantum biology and biophysics, providing new ideas for solving the major challenges facing mankind.
This study also changed the scientific community's understanding of the complexity of biological systems. For a long time, biological systems have been believed to follow classical physical laws, and their behavior can be explained by traditional theories. But increasing evidence suggests that quantum effects may be more common in biological systems than expected. From the energy transfer of photosynthesis to the navigation of bird magnetic field, quantum effects may play a key role in many biological processes.
The success of bacterial nanowire research also demonstrates the powerful capabilities of modern experimental technologies. The precision spectroscopy technique used by the team is able to observe electron behavior at the molecular level and measure quantum coherence at the microscopic scale. The development of these advanced experimental methods provides the necessary tools for exploring quantum phenomena in biological systems, making previously unobservable phenomena visible and measurable.
Looking forward, this discovery may give birth to a completely new field of research - room temperature bioquantum technology. Scientists need to understand in-depth the specific mechanisms in which bacteria maintain quantum coherence, including how protein structures protect quantum states from environmental disturbances, and how such protection mechanisms are optimized during evolution. These basic research will lay the theoretical foundation for the development of practical bioinspired quantum devices.
From the perspective of industrial development, this breakthrough may reshape the competitive landscape of quantum technology. Traditional quantum computing companies rely mainly on physical systems such as superconducting or ion traps, while bioinspired quantum technology may provide new entrants with opportunities for differentiated competition. At the same time, this also requires existing companies to re-evaluate their technical routes and consider incorporating biological principles into product development strategies.
This discovery by the Marvanka team is not only an expansion of the boundaries of scientific knowledge, but more importantly, it provides a new idea to solve the fundamental challenges facing the practical use of quantum technology. While artificially designed quantum systems are still fighting environmental noise, microorganisms have long grasped the secret of maintaining quantum coherence in complex environments. Learning and imitating these quantum solutions in nature may be the key to achieving the quantum technological revolution.
