How Quantum Mechanics [Maybe] Lets Us See, Smell and Touch

How Quantum Mechanics Lets Us See, Smell and Touch

by Tim Folger

A controversial alternative to the lock-and-key model suggests our sense of smell arises not just from the shape of molecules, but also from the manner in which those molecules vibrate. All molecules constantly jiggle with distinct tempos, based on their structure. Could our noses somehow detect differences in those vibrational frequencies? Luca Turin, a biophysicist at the Alexander Fleming Biomedical Sciences Research Center in Greece, believes they can.

Our eyes have evolved to be exquisitely sensitive to these photons. Some recent experiments have shown that we can even detect single photons, which raises an intriguing possibility: Could humans be used to test some of the weird features of quantum mechanics? That is, could a person — like a photon or an electron or Schrödinger’s hapless cat, dead and alive at the same time — directly engage with the quantum world? What might such an experience be like?

Hoffman gets mentioned towards the end of the article:

His ideas align with what some physicists believe to be a central message of quantum theory: Reality is not completely objective — we cannot separate ourselves from the world we observe. Hoffman fully embraces that view. “Space is just a data structure,” he says, “and physical objects are themselves also data structures that we create on the fly. When I look at that hill over there, I create that data structure. Then I look away and I’ve trashed that data structure because I don’t need it anymore.”

There is a good TED talk with Luca on YouTube. Worthwhile watching, it’s quite witty. It has a nice easy to understand suggestion as to how he thinks Quantum tunnelling plays a role in smell.

This one? ->