- More quantum bioprocesses

Some time ago I posted a comment about how photosyntesis shows quantum mechanics charateristics in the macroscale.

Well, there are apparently only 3 biological processes that show quantum mechanical behavior in the large scale. Photosynthesis as already mentioned is one of them, but also vision by absorbing discrete lumps of energy and converting them into an electrical current, and pulmonary activity which I don't completely understand why.

Who would have thought only 3 uh? In any case, nature is so cool that didn't forget to add "macroscopic" QM systems in our bodies!

On a different note, I am realizing how difficult it is to maintain an updated blog. I'll try to be better at it.

-Teaching Physics...

Next week begins the lab for which I'll be the TA. It is an undergraduate electromagnetism lab for engineers. I am excited about it. Although this is not the first time I teach, I am looking forward to it because I am now at a well ranked university. There are rumors about it being much more fun. I hope the stories are true.

I enjoy physics, but I enjoy teaching physics a lot more. I've had good students before, even if just a small number of them. We'll see how this goes.

I just read a very interesting article. It is not new, but it is to me. It talks about how out society has pushed college education into making a grade, and thus, "making" some students beg for a better grade at the end of the semester, when there is nothing more to do.

Here is the link, you should check it out: http://gtalumni.org/news/ttopics/win96/wiesen.html

Anyways, time for me to go. but a message to my students: Get ready!!!

-Contributions to biology/medicine

I just got the August 2007 issue of Physics Today and found something interesting to talk about.

On page 19, an article titled "Electric fields have potential as cancer treatment" talks about how common physics can be used in alternate fields, such as medicine and biology. Cancer is characterized by an uncontrolled production of cells, that is, the regulating mechanism for cell division stops working and therefore cells are produced in large quantities. Existing cancer treatments hamper cell division, but unfortunately they attack healthy cells too. Although the article discusses a model for Electric fields to work as cancer treatment, the final answer has yet to be known.

Whatever the answer is, this article shows how an understanding of the physical properties of biological entities can lead to the use of well known physics to contribute in new developments. For those thinking about biophysics, that is a great area to work in.

-Quantum mechanics in nature...

Some people do not appreciate the practical importance of Quantum Mechanics, considering it nothing more than some calculations and ideas in the pages of a book. Of course, the man-created digital electronics era would not be possible without an understanding of QM but also, as it turns out, certain everyday natural phenomena are possible due to the quantum characteristics of our world. One these natural phenomena is plant photosynthesis.

That interesting way plants use to convert sunlight into their fuel wouldn't be possible without the quantum-mechanical properties of the world. The main idea is very similar to what happens in photoabsorption of semiconductors, in which a photon of the right energy excites an electron into the conduction band. However, the multiple excitations and availability of states makes the process complicated. This is just another example of how simple models (energy and forbidden bands) have implication in many different fields and/or situations.

Photosynthetic processes have a nearly 100% efficiency. So, if we can ever control/mimic the way plants do photosynthesis we'll have, to name one example, highly efficient solar fuel cells.

For the mean time, we'll have to keep admiring nature and its quantum mechanical ways!

-Four priceless lectures

One of the great physicists of all time. After watching the lectures I understand how brilliant he was...

http://www.vega.org.uk/video/subseries/8

Great idea by Vega to post them online. Feynman rules!!!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

-Physics problem of the week

I found this website: http://www.physics.umd.edu/lecdem/outreach/QOTW/active/. After spending some time in it, I came to the conclusion that it is worth visiting periodically.

The idea is actually pretty good. They post a new question every week, and "give" you one week to figure it out. The cool part of it is that they complement the questions by adding pictures or videos. Then, they publish the answer a week later including more videos or pictures as "proof" so that no doubt remains!!!

The website is maintained by the Physics Department at the University of Maryland,.... if you guys are reading: good work! keep it up!!!

Enjoy,

R

-Here we go... First post!

I dunno why I am starting a blog. I don't think I have enough time to keep it updated, but I have decided to try.

I guess I'll use this space to complain about life in school, but every once in a while I might post something I thought was/is really interesing in the realm of physics.

Anyways, if you are reading this: welcome to my blog. Hope you enjoy it and I look forward to your comments!

Best,
R