Quantum vibrations may create odor signatures

BBC : The controversial idea that our sense of smell may have its basis in quantum events is gaining traction, writes Jason Palmer for BBC News. Andrew Horsfield at Imperial College London and colleagues, presenting at this month’s American Physical Society meeting in Dallas, Texas, say that quanta lost by electrons are the key to the process. Luca Turin of MIT recently published a paper showing that flies can distinguish molecules containing a heavier version of hydrogen from other, chemically similar molecules. Like a spring with a heavier weight at one end, the vibration frequency is lowered, and flies appear to notice. “All sorts of interesting biological physics that implements quantum processes” is cropping up, said Jennifer Brookes, also at MIT. “I believe it’s time for the idea to develop and for us to get on with testing it.”