For the first time, a multicellular organism entered quantum entanglement

Scientists have for the first time been able to insert a multicellular organism into quantum entanglement, and as the world's deadliest creature, Tardigrid came out of the experiment alive.

This is an almost unbelievable experience recently achieved by researchers at Nanyang University of Technology in Singapore: the quantum entanglement of a "Tardigrade" with a superconducting qubit! This is the first time a multicellular creature has been the subject of this quantum phenomenon. In the last experiment, the animal survived even the harsh conditions imposed on it, and it can be said that choosing Tardigrid for this study is not dangerous.

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quantum entanglement

quantum entanglement is a phenomenon of quantum mechanics not yet widely understood, in which two particles Or a group of particles forming a related system. So whatever the distance between them, their quantum states (1, 0, or both at the same time) are related. In this case, the particles are so-called intertwined, and there is a correlation between the physical properties of the two particles. Also known as "Water Bears" because of their unique appearance, these amazing creatures are known for their amazing resilience and can survive in extreme temperatures and pressures, and even in a vacuum. For all these reasons, these microscopic animals that have made it to the International Space Station could be the first interstellar travelers. It is severe, sometimes called hibernation, and is prepared by almost complete drying (removal of 95% of your body water).

In this condition, called "tun", they They look like small barrels, which is why the name was chosen. The fact that these organisms can withstand such harsh conditions suggests that their resistance is the result of a complete cessation of their metabolic processes. Thus, according to Rainer Dumke, co-author of the study, and his colleagues, Tardigrids were the ideal candidate to become the first potential multicellular organisms to tolerate quantum entanglement.

For this experiment, researchers placed a tardigrade of the Ramazzottius variornatus species between two superconducting qubits (equivalent to bits in classical computing). The animal was connected to a charged Qubit B by superconducting. The second qubit (Qubit A) was connected to qubit B only by a capacitor.

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When the test elements were completely in place, they reduced the pressure and temperature until the vacuum was almost complete and the temperature reached almost absolute zero (-273.15 C) and therefore The possibility of any possible external effects on qubits and tardigrades was taken into account. This icy chemical state made it possible to describe and study the whole system physically without considering the biological aspects of Tardigrid.

Tardigrid quantum entanglement testing process
Credit: R. Dumke et al.

to determine whether entanglement is between Whether tardigrid and qubit have been obtained? Researchers measured the vibration of the tardigrid-qubit set. The result was that calculations (based on measurements) only made sense when two objects were considered in a state of quantum entanglement. In fact, it can be said that two particles become entangled when one cannot be fully described without including other information; This was the case in this experiment.

Thus, the researchers were able to confirm that the entanglement state was obtained, which to some extent related the physical properties of a quantum bit and a multicellular organism for the first time in the world. The details of the experiment are now presented in a pre-published paper.

After their measurements, the researchers slowly lowered and warmed the tardigrid pressure, releasing it from its idle state and bringing it back to life. But the records set by this tardigrid do not end here. The temperature in question, which was barely 0.01 degrees Celsius above absolute zero, is the lowest temperature a tardigrade has ever survived as the world's toughest creature! It should be noted, however, that this tardigrade was the third candidate in the experiment, and in two experiments the nymphs did not survive due to rapid warming.

Graphic design of a tardigrade
Credit: 3Dstock/Shutterstock

According to researchers, this experiment shows That the animal was in fact in a static state of fuel, because the presence of any active chemical process does not allow quantum entanglement. However, this cessation of tardigrade metabolism is still debated in the scientific community, and some argue that less metabolic activity remains in your state. The question is, has he been alive during the turmoil? And how did he get involved in this entanglement? In addition, according to the researchers in this type of experiment, you never know which parts of the body's body are actually involved in the entanglement. Despite these technical hurdles, Damke and his team hope to experiment with other forms of intertwined life in the future.

But what do these experiments mean? It should first be noted that maintaining a quantum state corresponding to the degree of freedom of a multicellular biological system the size of a tardigrade is an important achievement, and the first step in studying these quantum phenomena, which we have just begun to understand microscopically. How they work and interact on a larger scale, especially on and with living organisms. Scientist, Archyworldys