Quantum Spin Effects in Energy Transfer: German and Israeli Scientists Launch Major Interdisciplinary Study

In a significant leap for the field of quantum biology, an international team of researchers from the University of Münster, Ulm University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has launched a major interdisciplinary study. This collaborative effort is specifically designed to investigate the complex ways in which quantum-physical phenomena influence the movement of electrons within biological systems.

Titled "Quantum Spin Effects at the Heart of Bioenergetic Processes," the project has secured substantial financial backing from the Volkswagen Foundation. Under the prestigious "NEXT — Quantum Biology" funding program, the initiative has been awarded a grant exceeding two million euros to explore these intricate molecular interactions.

Professor Martin Plenio, a leading scientist involved in the project, emphasizes that vital biological processes, most notably photosynthesis, occur at speeds that classical physics simply cannot explain. The research group is dedicated to determining the precise role that quantum mechanics plays in optimizing and accelerating these essential life functions.

A central focus of their investigation is the electron spin—the intrinsic angular momentum of an electron that generates a magnetic moment. This internal property is believed to be a critical factor in modulating the speed and efficiency with which electrons move through biological pathways.

The intensity of these magnetic interactions is fundamentally dependent on the spatial arrangement of biomolecules, particularly their chirality, often referred to as "handedness." Chiral molecules function as highly specialized spin filters, allowing electrons with certain spin orientations to pass through with greater ease than others.

This phenomenon, recognized as Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS), establishes a direct and profound connection between chiral symmetry and electron spin. Such a link provides significant implications for our understanding of the homochiral nature of life and how biological structures are organized.

Previous research into the CISS effect has already demonstrated its broad applicability in the field of spintronics and in deepening our knowledge of spin-selective biological pathways. Building on this foundation, scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have recently discovered that electron spin significantly influences the transfer of protons within chiral environments.

This specific process is facilitated by the excitation of chiral phonons, which serve to accelerate the movement of protons essential for cellular bioenergetics. This discovery effectively shifts the understanding of proton transfer from a purely chemical framework into the realm of quantum processes, potentially leading to new bio-inspired technologies.