The Computational Limit of Life May Be Much Higher Than We Thought
A new paper written by a theoretical physicist at Howard University claims that aneural eukaryotic cells could process information up to a billion times faster than typical biochemical processes.
This idea forms from the emerging evidence that biology and quantum mechanics may not be as mutually exclusive as scientists originally thought.
Although this idea requires rigorous experimentation to be proven, it might show that biological computation is much more powerful that even the greatest quantum computers.
What is the computational limit of biology? According to some technologists, the human brain is capable of 1016 computations per second, and if a super-advanced AI were to ever that threshold (and gain a whole host of other abilities), we'd enter hit what is known in tech circles as the singularity. However, a new article written by theoretical physicist Philip Kurian argues that this limit—and all other neuron-based estimations of life's computational abilities—have woefully underestimated the true abilities of biological brains.
Kurian includes a controversial (but increasingly influential) idea in his calculations: that quantum processes in a biological system, when taken together, far exceed the computing power of even the most advanced quantum computer. Published in the journal Science Advances, this article expands on QBL's recent discovery of cytoskeleton filaments exhibiting quantum optical features and recalculates the computational capacity of carbon-based life on Earth.
'This work connects the dots among the great pillars of twentieth century physics—thermodynamics, relativity, and quantum mechanics—for a major paradigm shift across the biological sciences, investigating the feasibility and implications of quantum information processing in wetware at ambient temperatures,' Kurian said in a press statement ('wetware' is a term for organic material in the human body analogous to hardware in a computer). 'Physicists and cosmologists should wrestle with these findings, especially as they consider the origins of life on Earth and elsewhere in the habitable universe, evolving in concert with the electromagnetic field.'
Biology and quantum mechanics typically don't mix, and for good reason. Artificial quantum systems generally require ultracold, approaching-absolute-zero temperatures to run, as qubits are incredibly sensitive to disturbances (this is why quantum computers also contain robust error correction measures). So, the warm and chaotic environment of, say, a human brain, is far from ideal for quantum processes.
However, for decades, some theories (that have slowly become less out there with age) have suggested that quantum processes could in fact be occurring in the brain. In some hypotheses, they could even be responsible for consciousness itself. Kurian's paper focuses on the amino acid tryptophan, which is found in many proteins and can form large networks within structures like microtubules, amyloid fibrils, cilia, and neurons. Combined with QBL's discovery last year, an idea has taken shape that aneural organisms may be able to use these quantum signals to process information.
Typically, biochemical signals involve neurons moving across cells, but in a quantum sense, tryptophan could be acting like quantum fiber optics. It would be able to perform operations in mere picoseconds, which would allow the cells to operate a billion times faster than chemical processing alone.
This revised limit may sound humbling, but if these aneural cells are using quantum signals to process information, that's good news for both the quantum computing world and the world of artificial intelligence.
'And all this in a warm soup! The quantum computing world should take serious notice,' Kurian said in a press statement. 'In the era of artificial intelligences and quantum computers, it is important to remember that physical laws restrict all their behaviors.'
Of course, much like many of the quantum theories of information processing and consciousness put forth in the past, Kurian's ideas still need rigorous testing before they completely upend our understanding of biological computation. However, what seemed inconceivable decades ago—combing the quantum world with the biological one—is quickly become less so as we learn more about the subatomic biological world.
You Might Also Like
Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss?
Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Albertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI) Partners with STRATACACHE to Leverage its Interactive Marketing Technologies
Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:) is one of the best future food stocks to buy according to analysts. Photo by Darla Hueske on Unsplash As announced on June 16, 2025, Albertsons Media Collective, Albertsons Companies, Inc.'s (NYSE:ACI) retail media arm, collaborated with STRATACACHE to leverage its leading interactive marketing technologies. Under this partnership, Albertsons Media Collective will launch its in-store digital display network, designed to transform the shopping experience, boost product visibility, and market selected food brands. These screens would allow companies to influence customer decisions, provide meal inspiration, and track increases in sales. 'At Albertsons Cos., we've identified a significant opportunity to enhance our in-store customers' shopping experience by delivering relevant and impactful messaging at the point of purchase,' said Jennifer Saenz, Chief Commercial Officer at Albertsons Cos. 'Our partnership with STRATACACHE enables brand partners to engage directly with our shoppers at this key moment, providing them with compelling offers, meal inspiration and timely information.' Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) runs food and drug retail stores across the U.S. Its portfolio consists of grocery products, pharmacy services, health care products, and others related services. It is one of the best future food stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of ACI as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and 10 Low Risk High Reward Stocks Set to Triple by 2030. Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'A beautiful partnership': Children take part in 'Summer at Sem, Explorations with the Y' program
Jun. 21—Which solution was the best for making lots of big bubbles? Turning to the 6- to 9-year-olds in her classroom, Wyoming Seminary science teacher asked them to remember their previous experiments. Did the store-bought solution work best? "No!" What about the homemade solution with sugar? "No!" Could it have been the homemade solution with glycerin? "Yes!" came the answer from a dozen budding scientists, who eagerly blew huge streams of bubble using their best solution and bubble blowers that had been handcrafted from plastic bottles with the bottoms cut off and replaced by a cloth that was held in place by a rubber band. The kids vied to make the tallest towers of bubbles, and some of them used their hands to sculpt bubbles into interesting shapes. It was all part of the fun at Summer at Sem, Explorations with the Y, a 3-week program that attracted 113 campers to Wyoming Seminary's Lower School campus in Forty Fort for sessions as diverse as LEGO robotics, photography, basketball and waterplay. "We have everything here," Cheryl Connolly, Wyoming Seminary director of advancement, said Friday, as children took part in the final day of camping activities. "It's a beautiful partnership," Sara Hargadon Michaels, camp director, said of this year's cooperative effort between Wyoming Seminary and the Y, which welcomed students from other schools to join Wyoming Seminary's program, which dates back to the 1990s. Michaels said she had seen children blossom at the camp. "You see the timidness of their first arrival turn into vibrancy and confidence as they soak up the energy of the camp." In one classroom, children sang about waddling ducks approaching a lemonade stand as they rehearsed a skit. In another, Wilkes-Barre Area kindergarten teacher Maria Hayward helped them use up some of their physical energy playing with balloons before they headed outdoors to draw with chalk. And in a gym, dozens of campers were dribbling basketballs. With faculty members from Wyoming Seminary and program specialists from the YMCA facilitating, Michaels said, "what has been provided has only enhanced what has traditionally been presented in the past. Favorites such as LEGO Stop Motion, Chemistry, Magic School Bus, Ocean Explorations, Cardboard Creations and Chef for a Day were joined by Pickleball, Speed and Agility and Sports from Around the World." While those camps were targeted at first through eighth graders, toddlers stayed busy with waterworks, sensory play and more with their teacher Margaret McCann in Arlington House, a separate building on the campus. "The partnership has been a fantastic experience, one that we hope to build on moving forward," Michaels said.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why Digital Turbine Stock Skyrocketed This Week
Digital Turbine stock rocketed higher after the company posted stronger-than-anticipated quarterly results on Tuesday. The company also issued guidance for its new fiscal year that topped Wall Street's targets. Digital Turbine's cost-cutting moves and increased focus on AI appear to have the business moving in the right direction. 10 stocks we like better than Digital Turbine › Digital Turbine (NASDAQ: APPS) stock saw explosive gains after reporting quarterly results earlier this week. The company's share price closed out the week up 23.1% from the previous week's market close. Before the market opened on Tuesday, Digital Turbine published its results for the fourth quarter of its last fiscal year, which wrapped up on March 31. While the stock saw significant pullbacks later in the week, it still ended the stretch with big gains. Digital Turbine's fiscal Q4 report arrived with sales and earnings that came in ahead of Wall Street's expectations. The business posted non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share of $0.10 on sales of $119.15 million, beating the average analyst estimate's call for adjusted per-share earnings of $0.04 on revenue of $116.64 million. While its adjusted per-share profit was down roughly 16.7% year over year, sales were up by around 6.2%. Investors were happy to see stronger-than-anticipated sales and earnings performance in the period. In addition to reporting Q4 results that beat Wall Street's targets, the adtech specialist also issued forward guidance that came in better than anticipated. With guidance for sales between $515 million and $525 million this year, Digital Turbine's midpoint target calls for annual revenue growth of roughly 6%. Meanwhile, the company is targeting adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of between $85 million and $90 million. Hitting the midpoint of that guidance range would mean posting annual growth of 21%. Digital Turbine's business appears to be stabilizing, and its efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) tools into its services for app promotions appear to be yielding beneficial results. The company's heavy exposure to the Chinese market poses a significant risk factor if geopolitical tensions with the U.S. continue to rise, but the company's cost-cutting moves and strategic shifts have been bearing fruit. Before you buy stock in Digital Turbine, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Digital Turbine wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $664,089!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $881,731!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 994% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Keith Noonan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Digital Turbine Stock Skyrocketed This Week was originally published by The Motley Fool
