Quantum mechanics to explain photosynthesis

Most light-gathering macromolecules are composed of chromophores attached to proteins, which capture sunlight. Previous studies have suggested that energy thus transferred is in a wave-like manner, but a non-classical explanation could not be conclusively proved as the phenomena identified could equally be described using classical physics. According to a new study, light-gathering macromolecules in plant cells transfer energy by taking advantage of molecular vibrations whose physical descriptions have no equivalents in classical physics. Read more in Nature Communications.