[quote]University of Chicago researchers have created a synthetic compound that mimics the complex quantum dynamics observed in photosynthesis and may enable fundamentally new routes to creating solar-energy technologies. Engineering quantum effects into synthetic light-harvesting devices is not only possible, but also easier than anyone expected
[...]
The researchers modified fluorescein -- the same molecule once used to dye the Chicago River green for St. Patrick's Day -- and then linked different pairs of these dyes together using a rigid bridging structure. The resulting molecules were able to recreate the important properties of chlorophyll molecules in photosynthetic systems that cause coherences to persist for tens of femtoseconds at room temperature.
"That may not sound like a very long time -- a femtosecond is a millionth of a billionth of a second," said study co-author Dugan Hayes, a UChicago graduate student in chemistry. "But the movement of excitations through these systems also occurs on this ultrafast timescale, meaning that these quantum superpositions can play an important role in energy transfer."
To detect evidence of long-lived superpositions, the researchers created a movie of energy flow in the molecules using highly engineered laboratories and state-of-the-art femtosecond laser systems. Three precisely controlled laser pulses are directed into the sample, causing it to emit an optical signal that is captured and directed into a camera.
By scanning the time delays between the arriving laser pulses, the researchers create a movie of energy flow in the system, encoded as a series two-dimensional spectra. Each two-dimensional spectrum is a single frame of the movie, and contains information about where energy resides in the system and what pathways it has followed to get there.[/quote]
[url]http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130419120954.htm[/url]
Can someone explain what exactly this means?
[QUOTE=Liem;40362964]Can someone explain what exactly this means?[/QUOTE]
as far as i can tell some people made a substance that is able to mimic the properties of chemicals used in photosynthesis...or something.
[QUOTE=yawmwen;40362994]as far as i can tell some people made a substance that is able to mimic the properties of chemicals used in photosynthesis...or something.[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-psyduck.gif[/IMG]
[editline]21st April 2013[/editline]
Where is johnnymo when you need him.
[QUOTE=Whitefox08;40363026][IMG]http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-psyduck.gif[/IMG]
[editline]21st April 2013[/editline]
Where is johnnymo when you need him.[/QUOTE]
IIRC JohnnyMo is more a physicist and less a biological chemist.
Could be wrong, though.
[QUOTE=Ledivad;40363132]IIRC JohnnyMo is more a physicist and less a biological chemist.
Could be wrong, though.[/QUOTE]
This is physics... and chemistry...
[QUOTE=Ledivad;40363132]IIRC JohnnyMo is more a physicist and less a biological chemist.
Could be wrong, though.[/QUOTE]
I just refer to him as Facepunch's general Science Wizard.
[QUOTE=Dwarfy77;40363146]I just refer to him as Facepunch's general Science Wizard.[/QUOTE]
Eudoxia, Ovb, JohnnyMo and Bradyns are the people I think of when it comes to science.
[QUOTE=Ledivad;40363132]IIRC JohnnyMo is more a physicist and less a biological chemist.
Could be wrong, though.[/QUOTE]
Chemistry is basically applied physics.
:v:
[QUOTE=maqzek;40363300]Chemistry is basically applied physics.
:v:[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://28.media.tumblr.com/mP4XxhPG0al2u38ltmDjVG82_500.png[/IMG]
[editline]20th April 2013[/editline]
xkcd is relevant again.
I won't be very helpful for this one..
But, the article contains some interesting stuff:
[QUOTE]Photosynthetic antennae -- the proteins that organize chlorophylls and other light-absorbing molecules in plants and bacteria -- support superpositions that survive for anomalously long times. Many researchers have proposed that organisms have evolved a means of protecting these superpositions. The result: improved efficiency in transferring energy from absorbed sunlight to the parts of the cell that convert solar energy to chemical energy. The newly reported results demonstrate that his particular manifestation of quantum mechanics can be engineered into human-made compounds.[/QUOTE]
So, we're working out how to create organic compounds that rely on quantum mechanics to work?
it means bioshock
-snippp-
Holy shit, this is amazing.
They've made an atom with an artificial superposition, which means one or more of the electrons (well any piece really that has multiple states) exists in two energy states simultaneously. If I recall correctly this has been done many times before,but they are short lived. But the just of this article as I am led to believe is that, prior to this it was believed superpostions did not naturally occur but this study found that plants, the chlorophyll more specifically, can make and exploits superpotions in atoms (that last much longer than man-made ones) asthe ability to have electrons exist in both energy states makes energy transfer more efficient.
So from what I understand the main point of this article is we've found an application for quantum superposition, energy transfer, and proof that they can last much longer than we first thought.
Am I the only one thinking this is ominuos? Like that orange goo in evangelion?
[QUOTE=Xakoro;40365230]Am I the only one thinking this is ominuos? Like that orange goo in evangelion?[/QUOTE]
yeah quantum biology makes me think about anime all the time
[QUOTE=Xakoro;40365230]Am I the only one thinking this is ominuos? Like that orange goo in evangelion?[/QUOTE]
Nah man, gotta say it makes me think about chlorophyl.
While reading, I flashed back to playing X-Com. I feel like the world just unlocked some sweet shit.
hey cool i wrote up my own lab about synthesizing fluorescein
i fucked up really badly, almost killed myself with the 200 degree oil bath
-schnop-
So basically it's absorbing light and holding it?
[QUOTE=valkery;40363200]Eudoxia, Ovb, JohnnyMo and Bradyns are the people I think of when it comes to science.[/QUOTE]
And even then they are probably just some amateur internet-scientists.
[QUOTE=spiritlol;40364823]They've made an atom with an artificial superposition, which means one or more of the electrons (well any piece really that has multiple states) exists in two energy states simultaneously. If I recall correctly this has been done many times before,but they are short lived. But the just of this article as I am led to believe is that, prior to this it was believed superpostions did not naturally occur but this study found that plants, the chlorophyll more specifically, can make and exploits superpotions in atoms (that last much longer than man-made ones) asthe ability to have electrons exist in both energy states makes energy transfer more efficient.
So from what I understand the main point of this article is we've found an application for quantum superposition, energy transfer, and proof that they can last much longer than we first thought.[/QUOTE]
Plants can manipulate quantum mechanics? Holy shit I thought we were advanced.
[QUOTE=Tark;40370833]Plants can manipulate quantum mechanics? Holy shit I thought we were advanced.[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't use a word for skillful operation to describe things without a nervous system, personally.
[QUOTE=valkery;40363388][IMG]http://28.media.tumblr.com/mP4XxhPG0al2u38ltmDjVG82_500.png[/IMG]
[editline]20th April 2013[/editline]
xkcd is relevant again.[/QUOTE]
This is what I was referring to, actually. Was just lazy to find it :v:
[QUOTE=Tark;40370833]Plants can manipulate quantum mechanics? Holy shit I thought we were advanced.[/QUOTE]
Considering plants were here before us, it's not really surprising.
[QUOTE=Tark;40370833]Plants can manipulate quantum mechanics? Holy shit I thought we were advanced.[/QUOTE]
Plants benefit from quantum seniority.
[QUOTE=Liem;40362964]Can someone explain what exactly this means?[/QUOTE]
they made fluorescein and then bridged them
this allowed magic photosynthesis by copying chlorophyll (the stuff plants use) and caused them to entangle for a bunch of femtoseconds
then they did some magic with lasers
[QUOTE=Gekkosan;40370659]And even then they are probably just some amateur internet-scientists.[/QUOTE]
I know JohnnyMo is a majoring in mathematics and physics.
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