From Superconductors to Super Bacteria

Nikhil Malvankar, a rising star in the scientific community and now a professor at Yale, initially focused on quantum mechanics during his Ph.D. at UMass. However, he has made an astonishing shift towards the microscopic world of biology, uncovering the secrets of how bacteria thrive deep underground without oxygen!

The Science of Bacterial ‘Snorkeling’

At the Yale Microbial Sciences Institute, Malvankar’s lab has made groundbreaking strides in understanding how bacteria utilize tiny protein filaments known as nanowires. These filaments empower bacteria to expel excess electrons while converting organic waste into electricity, a phenomenon referred to as bacterial "snorkeling." Remarkably, these clever microorganisms can channel electrons over distances up to 100 times their own size!

Quantum Mechanics Meets Bacterial Metabolism

Despite previous success in mapping the role of these nanowires, Malvankar found himself grappling with an enigma: the astonishing speed at which electrons were moving. In a return to his roots in quantum theory, he sought clarity on this perplexing question.

"The existing biological theories couldn’t explain their rapid pace," Malvankar stated. "It was either our measurements were incorrect, or it was time to rethink our theories."

A Quantum Leap in Biological Understanding

Collaborating with William Parson from the University of Washington, Malvankar's team discovered a striking revelation: the fluctuating protein rates were a million-fold slower than the electrons, suggesting that the electrons were ‘surfing’ on a wave instead of merely hopping like traditional particles. Their revelations, shared in a prominent cover article in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, challenge long-standing beliefs about electron behavior.

"We assumed electrons obeyed classical Newtonian principles, bouncing back like tennis balls. But we found them behaving as synchronized energy waves, traveling rapidly and coherently—even at room temperature!" Malvankar added.

The Future of Quantum Computing?

This discovery has profound implications for quantum sensing and computing. Traditionally, quantum effects in biological systems were underestimated due to the notion that the biological world is chaotic and counterproductive to quantum phenomena.

But Malvankar believes a paradigm shift could be on the horizon: "With tasks like photosynthesis being one of the few processes that utilize rapid motion over short distances, we’re learning that nature offers simpler solutions to incredibly complex problems."

He envisions a brave new world for quantum computers: "Currently, interaction between electrons—a necessity for data storage and processing—requires extreme temperatures around -500 degrees Fahrenheit, which is incredibly costly. But if we can extract lessons from nature, using principles from both quantum mechanics and biology, we may just leap forward into the next era of quantum computing!"