Science in Indian Education

National Science Day is observed every year on 28th February to mark the novel discovery of Raman Effect by the great Indian Physicist Sir C.V.Raman on this day in 1928. Raman Effect is a phenomenon in spectroscopy discovered by him while working in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the cultivation of Science, Calcutta. After two years of this discovery, Sir C.V.Raman brought the first Nobel Award for the country in 1930. Since 1987 National Council for Science and Technology communication fixed 28th February as National Science Day. The basic objective for observing National Science Day is to spread the message of importance of Science and its application among the people. All the NSD activities are planned around a theme for the year. Some of the interesting themes were; for 2006: Nurture Nature for the future, 2007: More crop per drop.
The role science could play in the development of India was realized by the leadership of the country long before independence.In 1938, Pt. J.LNehru sent a message to Silver Jubilee Session of Indian Science Congress at Calcutta was, "It is science alone that can solve the problems of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and illiteracy, of superstition and traditions". Nobel Laureate Sir C.V.Raman once remarked, "There is only one solution for India's economic problems and that is science and more science and still more science". Homi Bhabha in 1966 while addressing the International Council of Scientific Unions, in Bombay, remarked "What the developed countries have and the under-developed lack is modern science and an economy based on modern technology."

Pt. Nehru's dream was of modern prosperous India propelled by Science and Technology. Naturally school science education received special attention in the brave new world of Nehru's India, though not in systematic fashion. After independence major break through came in Indian Education System with the implementation of Kothari Commission's Report. Learning of science became compulsory both for boys and girls from class first to tenth. Previously learning science was an option for girls and boys used to begin it after class fifth. At present superior strength of school system is in the area of mathematics, physical and life sciences. Creativity and innovations are not too remote for Indian School Students. Every year hundreds of schools arrange/participate in science exhibitions of the objects created by school students in mega-cities. Some of the projects are prized at national and inter-national level. Some of our students participate in International Science Olympiads and win prizes.

But there is other side of the picture. In almost all the states and in the majority of the schools there is a trend of including more and more content overwhelmingly in the form of factual information in the syllabus. Laboratories in the schools have declined and even of demonstration once common are now confined to elite schools. Factual information that dominates the syllabi is not supported by any kind of activity. Students therefore have no option but to memorize the facts. Consequently maximum number of student's find science not only difficult but boring. Little effort is made to get to the roots of students difficulties. Teachers fail to develop in the students basic concepts which are built on the previous knowledge of students. Learning science for life is almost ignored. In each class, science is learnt to prepare for next higher class. As a result majority of students don't want to opt this subject beyond class tenth. Not long ago, a study conducted by National Council of Applied Economic and Research revealed that less than three percent of school students want to pursue a career in science. It is because that the current education system in schools lays emphasis on rate learning which apparently fails to kindle interest in Science.

Beyond the higher secondary stage, too little of the zeal for science finds its way into the University system. There are vast dragnets of engineering, technology, medicine and so forth, which draw the best scientific talent away. In 2003 a study conducted by "The National Institute of Science Technology and Development (NISTAD) revealed that between 1992-2003 both at plus two and college levels in Delhi, priority for science discipline as a whole was on decline. The data of college enrolment in sciences between 1990-91 and 1997-98 revealed that on an average about 48 percent of the students drifted out of B.Sc Course to join professional courses. These students were those who got admission after securing 80-90 percent marks at plus two levels. The choice of the National Talent search awardees also reflects this trend. In recent years, of the 750 awardees hardly 100 opted for science and only 15-20 percent pursue science to the post graduation level.

The B.Sc course for instance has failed because it is over regulated and standardized, so much so that a student has no say in selecting his subjects of study. We are in a situation where the system makes decisions for the students. Allotment of the subjects to the students is just like a 'ration card mentality'. It is rarely that students with obsession and passion for science enter the portal of colleges and universities that offer science courses which constitute "catchment area" for serious scientific work. Even those highly motivated who choose to remain in science and move into universities for post graduation and research are confronted with outdated curricula, disinterested teachers, un-inspiring teaching and poor infrastructure. In fact 88% of the students who opt for science are studying in affiliated colleges. Most of these colleges, flout the rules prescribed for teaching science by University Grants Commission. For their part, Universities have long abandon the accent on research and have merely become counters killing the enthusiasm even of the few motivated students.
The reasons for this mass exodus of brilliant young persons from science to professional courses aren't far to seek, One obvious explanation is that a career in science doesn't pay and those who still continue to be in science do so as a last resort. They are there, 'unmotivated' and 'un-interested'. To cap it all that is, the authoritarian attitude of Indian scientists in 'commanding positions' either at the universities or in national science laboratories have done much to drive away precious science talent. Indian research contributed a mere 2.16% of world's science and technology publications between 1993-2004. One of the factors that has marginalized Indian Science is the extremely meager support forthcoming from budgetary resources. Not even 1% of GDP goes to Science and allied research.

This year's Noble prize for chemistry has been given to Venktaraman Ramankrishna of Baroda, presently in Ohio University. Decades ago he failed to clear medical and engineering entrances conducted by IIT. He also appeared in the entrance test for reputed Christian medial college in vellore but was unsuccessful to get a seat. Now the evaluation methodology of entrance tests conducted is being reviewed and the role of coaching classes which teach 'tricks of the trade' to get through is also being sought out. After his post doctoral degree in science in eighties, Venktaraman Ramakrishnan applied for a job in about 50 Indian Universities but failed. There seems to be something wrong with our methods of selection of teachers in our universities.

At a public lecture at the Indian Institute of science campus, Bangalore, Venktarman was asked by a member of the audience if he had plans of returning to India. He said, "No". There are some rules essential for science to thrive. Apart from material infrastructure there needs to be an intellectual freedom, where there are no masters but only disciples. It must have people who are committed. Science is not a career or a profession but a way of life. Knowledge is built that way. Sometimes a discovery here and a proof there, shakes or even destroys the very edifice, no discouragement that the building again starts brick by brick. It is this situation which is exciting about science. This kind of set up may not be available for Venktaraman in India.

Mitticool Refrigerator that runs without electricity

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam called him a 'true scientist'. Mitticool, a clay refrigerator that works without electricity had turned the world's attention to its creator Mansukhbhai Prajapati, a craftsman based in Gujarat.Presenting the national award to Mansukhbhai in 2009, President Pratibha Patil appreciated his work and asked him for a Mitticool.

Scientists and journalists from across the world have visited his unit to see how he makes eco-friendly products at a low cost.

A school drop-out, he has achieved a feat that many in the world envy today.  The simple and unassuming Mansukhbhai is not keen on money. His ambition is to make more low-cost and eco-friendly products for the masses.

"A good majority of Indians cannot buy a fridge as it is expensive. Besides this, electricity bills and maintenance cost is also high. Mitticool is an eco-friendly product which has no maintenance costs. It also retains the original taste of vegetables, says Mansukhbhai who has sold 1500 units so far.

"I failed in the tenth standard. But I was not disappointed as I knew that I was capable of making something new," says Mansukhbhai who holds a patent for Mitticool.People who considered him as incapable, now look up to him. They say, "you are the pride of our community!"He has been popularising earthen products since 1988. The only drawback for him is the lack of stores to sell them.The products are mostly available in Gujarat and in some stores in Mumbai and Pune only. Besides, the low-cost fridge, he has developed a water filter, non-stick tava and a pressure cooker all made of clay. And he has many more innovative ideas.

The beginning
Pottery has been the Prajapati family's traditional business. Mansukhbhai's family belonged to Morbi in Rajkot district.However, his father gave up the profession as it was not getting them any money. It was all hard work without much gain. He being the only son was sent to school on the hope that he would do well in academics and get a good life.

However, he disappointed them when he failed tenth standard. To make matters worse, he refused to take up construction work which his father had started doing. He was however forced to do all sorts of odd jobs. He even injured an eye working in a brick factory.

"I was fed up. I wanted to start my own factory. But there was no way I could do it without resources. I joined a tile factory. I worked there for sometime. This was a turning point for me," he says.

He found that tiles were manufactured at a fast pace with a machine which was quite expensive.However, Mansukhbhai knew he needed to think differently and make innovative products. He took a loan of Rs 30,000 and started a small factory.At the age of 18, he made a machine, which could make 600 tavas a day instead of 100 tavas they used to make manually. This gave him lot of confidence to explore and innovate.He got the idea to make a machine for about Rs 4,000, which could help him manufacture more tavas than was being done manually. His initiative to restart the pottery business was not taken positively. But he went ahead despite opposition.

"Now all my family members actively take part in the work. They are very happy with what I have achieved so far. I owe a lot to my family. I am happy that my elder son is doing an engineering course in ceramic engineering."

His only regret is that because of poor marketing his products are not reaching out to many people. He, however, makes it a point to parcel products to people who are willing to deposit money in his bank account.

The business
It was a great beginning. "I also made a clay mixing machine. Till then, clay used to be missed with the legs. This machine also reduced the workload and improved the efficiency."By 1995, he realised the need to build a water filter. The market had steel filters which were not very efficient. After months of research and hard work, he built a water filter.Luck favoured him too. "A person who had settled in Nairobi heard about my project and approached me for 500 units. I was excited. I sold it making Rs 100,000 on the first sale. It was a good start. The product I developed was sold in Nairobi even before it sold in India," he says. The water filters priced at Rs 350 to 400 are quite popular.

Later in 2005, he started the non-stick tava  (pan) business. "My wife could not buy a non-stick tava as it was costly. So I thought many people would be facing the same problem.That's when I designed the non-stick tavas, priced between Rs 50-100." It took him an year to research and experiment -- testing the material for the non stick coating etc. The food grade test for the pan was done by Tata Chemicals in Mumbai.Mansukhbhai has sold more than 50,000 tavas. He had to make thousands of tavas before he made the perfect one.

He thanks the Gujarat Grassroots Innovation Network and professors at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and the National Innovation Foundation, who extended their help in the form of grant and guidance for getting the patent, making the packing box and lab testing of products.

"When a foreign delegation came to meet me, we cooked food in clay vessels and served them in clay plates. They were very impressed and happy with our healthy approach."

In 2009, he made the clay pressure cooker. "It comes with a whistle too," he remarks. About 500 cookers have been sold so far.

The idea behind Mitticool
During the 2001 earthquake, all earthen pots were broken. Some people told me the poor people's refrigerators are broken. They referred to the 'matkas'(pots) as refrigerators.It struck me then that I must try to make a fridge for those who cannot afford to buy a fridge. The patent winning Mitticool has been the most challenging product for him. It needed a lot of experimenting. He started work on it in 2001, the product was finally ready by 2004.

It took him almost four years of hard labour and an investment of about Rs 10 lakh (Rs 1 million). An engineer who saw the fridge asked him to make 100 units. This was a great morale booster.He had to take a loan of about Rs 10 lakh (Rs 1 million) for the Mitticool project. He is still repaying the debt.

It takes 10 people to make a fridge in one day. Made from clay, the refrigerator can store water, fruits, vegetables for 8 days and milk for one day.The upper part of the refrigerator stores water, while the bottom unit has space for fruits, vegetables and milk.At present, he sells the clay fridges at Rs 2,500, at his unit. Most of the sales outside Gujarat are done during exhibitions.

In Mumbai and Pune, some of his products are available. Every year he takes part at the international trade fair in New Delhi in a bid to popularise the products."I have also been getting lot of calls from the US. It is amazing to see so much interest from abroad," he says happily.

Mitticool was showcased at a conference organised by the Centre for India and Global Business, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, UK in May 2009. Bosch and Siemens Hausger te (BSH), Germany, has also showed interest in Mitticool.

About 20 units of Mitticool have been exported to the UK, Africa and Nairobi. He has now been invited to Africa to set up a unit there. "I have not committed anything but the most important thing is the soil. Gujarat has the best soil for pottery," he points out.

The recognition
Mansukhbhai had never imagined that his products would win him so many accolades.Nothing can be as rewarding as such compliments. Money is nothing compared to people's appreciation. "Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi knows me by my name. He has been very supportive and told me to approach him for any problem," he says.He says well-known activist and performer Mallika Sarabhai recently remarked that he should be made Gujarat's brand ambassador.

He also enjoyed doing a shooting for a programme which will be aired on Discovery Channel."A team from the Discovery Channel took me around India. I enjoyed the trip. It was a wonderful experience. I had never imagined that I would ever be able to fly in a plane," Mansukhbhai says.The media has been very supportive. It feels great to see my products on television channels, newspapers etc.He also enjoyed doing a shooting for a programme which will be aired on Discovery Channel.

"A team from the Discovery Channel took me around India. I enjoyed the trip. It was a wonderful experience. I had never imagined that I would ever be able to fly in a plane," Mansukhbhai says.

The media has been very supportive. It feels great to see my products on television channels, newspapers etc.


His goal
Mansukhbhai wants every Indian to have access to his products. There is very little awareness about the products though I try to participate in 2-3 exhibitions every year."I wish I could strike a deal with a retail store like Big Bazaar to get better visibility. I am sure if more people use our products, it will create more awareness about such low-cost products that are a healthy and cost effective alternative in the long run."

Advice to entrepreneurs
His advice to budding entrepreneurs is: Never think about failures. Never give up.Put your heart and soul into what you want to do. Always follow the right path and have patience. Keep working hard.

Water on the moon

Water on the moon, once again it has found evidence - clear and definite than before. India's first unmanned moon mission Chandrayaan -1 left in NASA's Moon's North Pole present one radar around the ice-filled 40 Kretr (pits) have identified. NASA says that after this search for the moon Saintiston has become even more interesting. The search for information about the NASA Jiofijikl Research Letters journal has been published.

Why important: without water life can not. So it is believed that while water will be there as will stir some life. Moon's shot was a drought and Ujdha. If there would mean we should get Maikrobs Universe Earth, life is not limited. We are not alone.

What's New Search: Chandrayaan -1 present in one of 11 NASA lightweight equipment Mini - SAR (synthetic aperture radar), 15 kilometers from the North Pole on 2 of 40 pits Daymitr discovered. This is less than 10 kg of Radar. Mini - the portion of the moon in SAR has identified these ponds, there would not sunlight. The dark area is very cold. It is believed that water ice than there is fluid in large quantities.

Water - with ice Kretr: Kretron inside and outside surface is highly Ubrkhabr. Because the sharp pointed rocks around Kretr, but the North Pole is rough these Kretr inside, not outside. The reason is substance present in these ponds. NASA considered this unknown substance is water ice. According to NASA it will be deep snow only a few meters above it looks Khurdurapan. It is guessed that the moon 600 million metric tonnes of water ice may exist. Some ice may have been found in the soil of the moon, who could not catch the radar.

Earlier evidence of water: Mini - twice before SAR has found evidence of water on the moon. NASA Moon as the Moon Polar Minrolji Mapr areas identified was the presence of water Molikyuls. It also Mapr Mini - with the Chandrayaan -1 mission SAR has been sent. Before Mapr NASA satellite sensing satellite or Lunr Kretr Objrvesn and the steam Elcros the water Vepr was detected.

Intel Talent Search Finalists

Suman Guha Mozumder
The Intel Science Talent Search (Intel STS) is the oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition in the United States. It encourages students to tackle challenging scientific questions and develop the skills necessary to solve the problems of tomorrow. Each year, 300 semifinalists are selected from a pool of approximately 1,700 applicants from across the nation to compete for $1.25 million in scholarships and awards.Here Suman Guha Mozumder speaks to the five finalists of Indian origin, and finds a common trait -- they are all rooted in tradition while aiming for the stars.

Math for world's sake
For Akhil Mathew of Madison, New Jersey, promoting the sciences and mathematics is a life ambition. "It seems doing that would be necessary to address many of the world's current problems," says the 18-year-old Intel Science Talent Search finalist, who entered a project in mathematics.Akhil was born in India to Thomas and Rama Madhavarao, but he has spent most of his life in New Jersey.According to Intel, Akhil combines algebraic geometry, representation theory and category theory in his work on Deligne categories of complex rank. Deligne created a large family of categories parametrised by complex numbers which interpolate classical categories, ones in which the complex number in question is a positive integer. In his project, Akhil showed that under certain finiteness assumptions important properties of these categories are determined by constructible sets. He then showed that these properties hold generically if they hold on a sufficiently large set of parameters.Akhil is a tutor in chemistry, math and French at Madison High School, where he is also active in the chess club. Since eighth grade, he has taken courses at Drew University, where he recently assisted in preparing a math textbook for publication.He is moderator of an online Johns Hopkins University math forum. "I play tennis casually and volunteer at the public library as a chess teacher for elementary school students," he adds.He says his former mentor and current teacher Sinan Gunturk of New York University taught him a great deal about analysis and got him seriously interested in mathematical research. Akhil hopes to continue his studies at Harvard or MIT. "I am very glad to have received the finalist award," he says, "and look forward to presenting my work in Washington, DC."

The mathematician philosopher
Arjun Ranganath Puranik turns philosophical when asked about his goal in life. "I think we are only truly happy when we help people somehow," says the 17-year-old from Palatine, Illinois. "Even helping one person has a positive impact on society at large."He submitted a mathematics project to the Intel Science Talent Search that classifies the representations of rational Cherednik algebras, which have applications in quantum physics.According to Intel, Arjun's research gives a deepened understanding of H3, the group of symmetries of the regular icosahedron. He studies an algebraic structure built from H3, called the rational Cherednik algebra. His classification of finite dimensional representations of this algebra provides useful linear algebra information about this complicated structure. His result contributes to the efforts to classify all rational Cherednik algebras.Arjun, who was born in Karnataka to engineer parents Ranganath and Parimala Puranik and who has been in the United States since he was in kindergarten, is first in his class of 747 at William Fremd High School where he is managing editor of the newspaper, lead member of the math team and captain of the scholastic and science bowl teams."My parents and my older brother have encouraged and mentored me to pursue my passion in math and science by example and by direction," he says. "My family has always been and is continuing to support me in all of my pursuits." Though his academic pursuits keep him busy, he loves to play tennis and has played at the varsity level the last two years."I also love to listen to music in general, and have been trained in playing classical piano and in Hindustani vocals," says Arjun. He hopes to get into either Stanford or MIT following the footsteps of his brother, who has just graduated fromStanford.

Helping hand, through science
I know this sounds like a bit of a cliche and definitely idealistic coming from a 17-year-old, but I want to make a difference," says Sunanda Sharma, Intel finalist from Shrewsbury High School, Massachusetts. "I've been very lucky with the resources and support that I have, and have a responsibility to help others who maybe aren't so fortunate," she says.Her Intel project mirrors that philosophy. Sunanda, who was born in New Delhi and immigrated to the United States when she was three, investigated the effect of an enriched environment on autism-relevant behaviour for her Intel project in behavioural and social sciences. Focusing on an autism candidate gene called PTEN, active in embryo formation and development, she studied juvenile and adult mice, using those with PTEN irregularities as autism models. She believes her findings show that environmental enrichment can be used to influence deficits in brain circuitry caused by genetic abnormality even when the gene is very early-acting. She is the co-author of a paper on the subject being prepared for publication.Sunanda, who "can't wait until March to go to DC," says, "I'm very excited and extremely grateful to Intel, my mentor and the lab in which I worked, and my school. Of course, I really appreciate my parents and brother for supporting me through the last several months and years."Science, as they say, is in her blood. Her father is a scientist."Definitely they [her parents] were a big influence and inspired me to pursue science since I was a kid," says Sunanda, daughter of Jitendra and Usha Sharma. "On a more personal note, one person who has possibly influenced and inspired me the most is my older brother Samvaran, who has taught me so much about science, research, and life in general," she adds.She is president of her school's speech and debate club, which is made up of about 70 students who compete in local and national tournaments each year. She also plays clarinet in the school band, and loves to play piano on her own. "I also am learning to compose and mix audio tracks," she adds proudly. Sunanda, who has won numerous honours in state and regional science fairs, hopes to attend MIT or Harvard.

Juggling Bharat Natyam and Andromeda
Namrata Anand's goal in life is simple -- to impact as many people as possible in the most positive way that she can. "I believe that if I go about life trying to improve the lives of those around me, I will not only help impact society at large but will live a fulfilling life myself," she says.And for the 17-year-old from Los Altos Hills, California, scientific research is a great way to reach and influence people across the globe."My parents [RK and Nita Anand] and my sister have always encouraged me to shoot for the stars," she says.She has done just that for her Intel Science Talent Search project in physics and space sciences. She used spectral analysis and nearly a decade's worth of data to expose key information about the chemical enrichment history of the Andromeda galaxy. She believes that chemical analysis projects like hers, focusing on patterns of metallicity, have the potential to identify locations in space with a high probability of extraterrestrial life. Her work will form a major section of a paper being prepared for publication in the Astrophysical Journal; she will be a co-author."I am incredibly honoured," she says about being an Intel Search finalist. "The research opportunity I was given over this past summer at University of California-Santa Cruz was a phenomenal one, and I can't imagine having brought myproject to this level without the help of my mentor, Dr Raja Thakurta, and my school's science department. I am thrilled at the thought of traveling to Washington, DC to hear all about the amazing projects 39 other students have completed."Namrata, born and raised in the Bay Area, says her family has had a great influence over her and that her love of writing, physics and the performing arts can all be traced back to some inspiring aunt, grandparent or a second cousin. She is part of her school's conservatory, which provides students with a forum to explore their passion for the arts and develop their creative abilities."I am also learning Bharata Natyam and Carnatic vocal music. My gurus are not just extremely talented but they are my role models in more ways than I can count," she says. She also loves to run, play basketball, and is a passionate football fan.Namrata, who plans to attend Harvard or Stanford, says her Hindu religion and Indian culture have influenced many aspects of her life in the most brilliant, positive ways."The past 17 years have been awesome," she says, "and I can't express how grateful I am for all the opportunities I have been given."

The green warrior
Raman Venkat Nelakanti, 17, is passionate about doing something to solve the global energy crisis; and he believes biology can help."Ten years down the line," the Intel Science Talent Search finalist says in conversation with India Abroad, "I want to be at the forefront of biological energy production, which is a recently developing science. The issue over producing
renewable energy is important to me because I want to keep the earth sustainable. I hope that my future research endeavors will contribute to that." Plano, Texas-born and Bay Area, California-raised Raman feels people are putting off the inevitable effects of global warming and energy shortages as something of the future.Raman investigated the green algae chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a potential source of hydrogen, a renewable biofuel, for his Intel plant sciences project. These algae require an oxygen-free environment for producing hydrogen. Depriving algae of sulfur causes them to consume oxygen in their environment, thereby maintaining a balance where they can produce hydrogen. At the same time, complete sulfur deprivation inhibits algae growth and introduces inefficiencies into the process."I found an optimal amount of sulfur and a process that could be used for algae to produce hydrogen gas and have normal growth," he explains. "I devised a method that improves the efficiency and sustainability of algal hydrogen production." When he got to know he was an Intel finalist, he felt "absolutely surprised, amazed and excited. I am really looking forward to going to DC and meeting with many great scientists and other finalists from across the nation."Raman says his parents Bhava and Tara Nelakanti have always been there to encourage him in his interests, be it science fairs, music or cricket. "I really love playing cricket and have been playing in the California Cricket Association since seventh grade. I still play in the adult league matches on the weekends," he says.He also learns Carnatic vocal music and enjoys gardening at home and at his Sunnyvale Community Garden. He volunteers for the community garden and a swim center called Abilities United, where he helps with aquatic therapy for children with disabilities."The Bay Area has been an amazing place to grow up," says Raman, who also attributes his success to the amazing teachers who helped him along the way. "Everyone at school is intelligent, friendly and supportive," he adds. "The community has really helped me grow as a scientist."

Quantum Mechanics in photosynthesis

We were astonished to find clear evidence of long-lived quantum mechanical states involved in moving the energy. Our result suggests that the energy of absorbed light resides in two places at once.

It also raises some other potentially fascinating questions, such as, have these organisms developed quantum-mechanical strategies for light-harvesting to gain an evolutionary advantage? It suggests that algae knew about quantum mechanics nearly two billion years before humans."

Greg Scholes, University of Toronto professor of chemistry

A team of University of Toronto chemists have made a major contribution to the emerging field of quantum biology, observing quantum mechanics at work in photosynthesis in marine algae. "There's been a lot of excitement and speculation that nature may be using quantum mechanical practices," says chemistry professor Greg Scholes, lead author of a new study published this week in Nature. "Our latest experiments show that normally functioning biological systems have the capacity to use quantum mechanics in order to optimize a process as essential to their survival as photosynthesis."

Special proteins called light-harvesting complexes are used in photosynthesis to capture sunlight and funnel its energy to nature's solar cells – other proteins known as reaction centres. Scholes and his colleagues isolated light-harvesting complexes from two different species of marine algae and studied their function under natural temperature conditions using a sophisticated laser experiment known as two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy.

"We stimulated the proteins with femtosecond laser pulses to mimic the absorption of sunlight," explains Scholes. "This enabled us to monitor the subsequent processes, including the movement of energy between special molecules bound in the protein, against a stop-clock. We were astonished to find clear evidence of long-lived quantum mechanical states involved in moving the energy. Our result suggests that the energy of absorbed light resides in two places at once – a quantum superposition state, or coherence – and such a state lies at the heart of quantum mechanical theory."

"This and other recent discoveries have captured the attention of researchers for several reasons," says Scholes. "First, it means that quantum mechanical probability laws can prevail over the classical laws of kinetics in this complex biological system, even at normal temperatures. The energy can thereby flow efficiently by—counter intuitively—traversing several alternative paths through the antenna proteins simultaneously. It also raises some other potentially fascinating questions, such as, have these organisms developed quantum-mechanical strategies for light-harvesting to gain an evolutionary advantage? It suggests that algae knew about quantum mechanics nearly two billion years before humans."