Quantum biology is a new discipline studying how lifeforms utilize quantum effects. Science is learning how to make use of the quantum effects—giving us transistors, lasers, and quantum computing—but life has been doing it all along.

For example, quantum tunneling explains how enzymes are able to speed up chemical reactions in our body, as well as accounting for the sense of smell. And birds appear to be using entanglement to visually see the earth’s electromagnetic field, explaining their uncanny ability to navigate. And plants are able to control quantum superposition to gather light in photosynthesis. Our bodies have long evolved to take advantage of our quantum nature, but science is only starting to discover its usefulness.

How Quantum Biology Might Explain Life’s Biggest Questions – Jim Al-Khalili | YouTube 16:09

So, what about consciousness? Mainstream science would say the brains of living organisms are too “warm and messy”, too noisy to allow access to quantum processes, since they must freeze quantum computers to near absolute zero to minimize heat motion. But now we know that life uses quantum process all the time. Furthermore, consciousness is not warm and messy; the brain is. Why can’t consciousness have its own direct access? Mainstream science hasn’t a clue of what consciousness is, and yet it is quite confident that consciousness can’t access its own nonlocal substrate. Meditators would beg to differ.