Quantum Biology Gains Momentum as Researchers Probe Quantum Effects in Living Systems

Quantum biology, the interdisciplinary pursuit of whether and how quantum-mechanical principles influence living systems, is experiencing a period of remarkable expansion. A new Research Topic in Frontiers in Photonics, introduced by an editorial from Marcelo Victor Pires de Sousa of the IDOR Pioneer Science Initiative and the Federal Institute of Sergipe, gathers recent developments spanning foundational theory, mechanistic studies, computational chemistry, biosensing technology, and clinical translation. The collection reflects a field that has moved from speculative fringe to a rigorous research program, armed with advances in quantum physics, spectroscopy, computational chemistry, and molecular biology that now allow scientists to examine coherence, tunneling, and spin dynamics in living organisms with unprecedented precision.

At the conceptual heart of the collection lies a review by Alvarez and colleagues surveying biological processes where quantum phenomena may play a functional role. The authors synthesize representative cases including photon capture in vision, the highly efficient energy transfer that underpins photosynthesis, and vertebrate magnetoreception with particular emphasis on the radical pair mechanism. By clarifying the types of biological systems in which quantum dynamics may become functionally relevant, the review establishes a conceptual foundation for the diverse studies that follow, helping readers distinguish between processes where quantum effects are plausibly exploited by evolution and those where they remain incidental.

Building on that foundation, Parisio and coauthors contribute a pedagogical introduction to the quantum-mechanical concepts most relevant to biology, using the avian compass as a guiding example. The article presents the radical pair mechanism didactically, showing how spin dynamics and quantum coherence can influence biochemical reactions in living organisms. The avian magnetoreception case is especially compelling: certain birds appear to navigate using Earth’s magnetic field through light-sensitive cryptochrome proteins whose radical pair intermediates may retain spin coherence long enough for magnetic-field effects to modulate reaction outcomes. By bridging fundamental quantum theory with this biologically motivated model system, the contribution situates magnetoreception within the broader landscape of quantum effects in living matter.

The origin of life emerges as one of the most important themes in the collection. Quilici and colleagues offer a mini-review on how computational quantum methods can inform prebiotic chemistry, addressing scenarios ranging from thermal reactions on early Earth to photochemical processes under astrophysical conditions. Computational simulations of electronic structure and reaction pathways allow researchers to test how life could emerge from inorganic chemistry without needing to recreate every experimental condition in the laboratory. Quantum chemical calculations of reaction energetics, transition states, and photochemical excitation provide a mechanistic window onto the molecular-scale events that may have bridged nonliving and living chemistry billions of years ago.

Neuroscience enters the quantum biology conversation through a theoretical study of ion channels. Neuronal ion channels are complex, coupled, many-body quantum systems in which electronic coherence has recently been speculated to persist for relatively long timescales despite the decohering effects of their environments, possibly assisted by noise. Da Silva Ramos and colleagues model an ion channel as a linear quantum chain using a tight-binding Hamiltonian with Lindblad source-drain dynamics, examining how correlated on-site energies act as a tunable switch between trapping and conduction. The work suggests that correlated disorder, rather than being purely detrimental, could modulate transport efficiency in biological ion channels. If quantum coherence in ion transport proves functionally relevant, the implications for neuroscience and medicine could be profound, opening new avenues for understanding neuronal signaling and designing interventions at the molecular scale.

Light-matter interactions in human tissue feature prominently in two contributions on retinal and skin photophysics. Brash and Gaillard examine the molecular mechanisms of chemiexcitation and review emerging evidence that melanin in the human retina may undergo chemiexcitation as part of a protective response against age-related macular degeneration. Chemiexcitation refers to the generation of electronically excited states through chemical reactions rather than photon absorption, and the review highlights how such excited states can influence biological function. Herrera and colleagues, meanwhile, investigate how red-light irradiation influences cellular responses, with particular attention to nitric oxide homeostasis and its implications for phototherapeutic interventions. Their work examines how photon energy interacts with biological chromophores to modulate cellular signaling and metabolic pathways, contributing to a growing body of research on photobiomodulation in living systems.

At the subtle end of the biophysical spectrum, Gallep analyzes patterns of ultraweak photon emission in seedlings that appear to follow periodicities resembling local gravimetric tidal cycles across several geographic locations. Auto-luminescence in seedlings, if genuinely coupled to gravimetric tides, would situate biophoton dynamics within a chronobiological framework and suggest that environmental physical fluctuations may leave measurable signatures on biological photon emission rhythms. The study exemplifies the field’s willingness to explore subtle physical influences on biological systems, a hallmark of quantum biology that demands rigorous statistical treatment across multiple sites and conditions.

Systems-level and translational perspectives round out the collection. Casotti and colleagues present an integrative view of cancer research combining systems biology, evolutionary thinking, and multidisciplinary synergy, emphasizing the reduction of disciplinary silos, open data sharing, and patient-centered feedback in therapeutic development. Costa and colleagues report an electrochemical aptasensor for detecting dengue NS1 protein, built on a self-assembled monolayer of DNA aptamers and thiol molecules and characterized through electrochemical capacitance spectroscopy, with optimization via aptamer-to-thiol ratio tuning. The device illustrates how molecular recognition integrated with nanoscale electrochemical sensing can translate bio-inspired physical principles into practical diagnostics. Davinack outlines how quantum computing and quantum machine learning, through algorithms for classification, clustering, and optimization, could support population-genetic inference and molecular ecology, while Martins and colleagues review the biological mechanisms and clinical evidence for photobiomodulation therapy in neuropathic pain, discussing multimodal strategies, personalized dosimetry, and wearable and transcranial technologies.

Together, the contributions reflect the diverse theoretical, computational, experimental, and translational frameworks now converging on quantum phenomena in biological systems. The editorial expresses hope that the Research Topic provides a useful overview of current research activity and supports continued dialogue and collaboration across disciplines. As quantum technologies mature and biological instrumentation grows ever more sensitive, the boundary between quantum physics and biology is likely to blur further, promising discoveries that range from the molecular origins of life to next-generation medical therapies.

Subject of Research: Quantum biology

Article Title: Editorial: Quantum biology

Article References: Pires de Sousa, M. V. (2026). Editorial: Quantum biology. Frontiers in Photonics, 7, Article 1826400. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphot.2026.1826400

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.3389/fphot.2026.1826400

Keywords: quantum biology, biophotonics, magnetoreception, radical pair mechanism, prebiotic chemistry, ion channels, photobiomodulation, biosensors, quantum computing, retinal photochemistry, Editorial, Quantum