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The workshop centers on quantum biology: whether quantum effects, such as those in photoactive proteins, drive processes in living systems like bird navigation, or whether quantum sensing merely serves as a tool for studying biology. The article separates the uncontroversial second idea from the contested first, which is the distinction readers should keep in mind. Claims that quantum effects power biological mechanisms remain unproven, so treat them as open research questions rather than established results.

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Northwestern co-hosts quantum biology workshop next week

Quantum ZeitgeistOctober 16, 20266 min read

Northwestern University co-hosts the Quantum Effects at the Biology and Innovation Interface (QBi2) 2026 consortium, a quantum biology workshop for researchers and students, to explore whether living systems harness quantum phenomena at the level of electrons, atoms and molecules. The workshop, held Oct. 19-20 at the Biohub in Chicago, will focus on photoactive proteins and how their quantum properties might be observed.

The ability of birds to migrate 5,000 miles and return defies simple explanation, leading some scientists to consider the role of quantum mechanics in animal navigation. Northwestern University is co-hosting the Quantum Effects at the Biology and Innovation Interface (QBi2) 2026 consortium workshop, beginning October 19, to explore this emerging field and its potential to unlock biological mysteries. “Undoubtedly, when birds are born, they know what to do,” said Songi Han, a chemistry professor at Northwestern. “They fly 5,000 miles in one direction and know how to come back. It’s such a dramatic phenomenon.” These proteins, which react to light, are central to understanding how quantum mechanics might influence biological systems, offering a pathway to observe and…

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