Susanne Yelin (Department of Physics)
First-Year Seminar 58G | Fall Term | Tuesday, 9:45-11:45 AM
Enrollment limited to 12 | CANVAS SITE
How much of life’s complexity is forged by quantum phenomena that usually live in the rarefied world of physics labs? In this First-Year Seminar, we’ll explore how coherence, superposition, entanglement, and other quantum effects might manifest in biological processes — from photosynthesis to avian navigation and perhaps even in the workings of the human brain. We’ll begin with a high-level introduction to quantum mechanics before digging into lab-based evidence and theoretical models that propose (or refute) the presence of quantum coherence in warm, noisy environments. Along the way, we’ll tackle big questions: Are enzymes really harnessing quantum tunneling to speed up chemical reactions? Could “quantum consciousness” be more than speculation? Through discussions and short readings from primary research, you’ll assess how much of life’s brilliance truly hinges on quantum physics — and how much belongs in the realm of classical biology. By the end, you’ll have a new lens on how physics and biology intersect, and where the quantum world might end—or begin—inside living systems.