Bird Navigation Based On Quantum Zeno Effect

KentuckyFC writes "How birds use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate has puzzled researchers for decades. In recent years, a growing body of evidence has pointed to the possibility that a weak magnetic field can influence the outcome of a certain type of chemical reaction involving the recombination of pairs of ions in bird retinas. The trouble is that the ion recombination is known to happen too quickly for the Earth's weak magnetic field to have any effect. Now it looks as if the quantum Zeno effect explains all, says one researcher (abstract). This is the watched-pot-never-boils effect in which the act of observing a quantum system maintains it for longer than expected. That's extraordinary news because it means a quantum sensor is determining the macroscopic behavior of living birds."

Weird

[MBCook (132727)]

So, from reading the article, the birds observing the chemical reaction, thus slowing it down long enough for the magnetic field of the Earth to have a detectable effect when it shouldn't.

Quantum mechanics is so weird. Neat!

But when the researchers looked for this, shouldn't that looking have caused the metaphorical pot to be watched thus inducing the effect, or had no one tried to measure this simply because they knew the reaction didn't take long enough (or shouldn't, ignoring quantum mechanics)?

Bonus questions: The article said that had proved this by using a strong electric field to alter the way this reaction goes. Would it be possible to inject something into the birds that would prevent them from "watching" this reaction, so it would go at it's "normal" speed?

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[TheRealMindChild (743925)]

Actually this reminds me of those Old machines [btopenworld.com] that old astronomers used to try to explain how the heavens worked. Before we knew that we weren't the center of the universe... before the understanding of retrograde motion, they just kept adding gears to these things to make it work closer and closer to what they saw. They thought the answer to everything was "It must be more complex than what we understand". If I have learned anything in my life worth knowing is that the universe than we want to give it cre

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[nacturation (646836)]

If I have learned anything in my life worth knowing is that the universe than we want to give it credit for.

Something missing there... "is simpler" you mean?
 

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[TheRealMindChild (743925)]

You are correct. I have no idea where those words went :(((((((((

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[laxpeter (996124)]

I'm sure there's a simple explanation.

Re:Weird

[Paradise Pete (33184)]

If I have learned anything in my life worth knowing is that the universe than we want to give it credit for.

The one thing you've learned in your life, and it makes no sense. That must be depressing. Or maybe it's deeply philosophical.

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[PoliTech (998983)]

"If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are." Zen saying

HHGTTG reference, perhaps.

[jd (1658)]

If the question and the answer cancel out, they might take the universe with it.

Re:Weird

[aleph42 (1082389)]

But when the researchers looked for this, shouldn't that looking have caused the metaphorical pot to be watched thus inducing the effect, or had no one tried to measure this simply because they knew the reaction didn't take long enough (or shouldn't, ignoring quantum mechanics)?

I didn't have any serious courses on quantum-anything, but I think you are taking this way to
"philosophically". "Observation" here actually just means interaction with a nearby atom.

I think that the idea is that the atom is in an "undefined" state (or rather, multiple states at once), and that having an interaction (which should depend on the state) forces it to chose between states. Once this happens (in the bird's retina), I don't think any further interaction can affect anything, and certainly not something as indirect as a human looking at the bird.
Confusion arise because of the words "observation", "retina" and looking" in the same topic.

That said, I had the impression that those kind of quantum weirdness (like the living-dead cat) were a good hint that those thing can never scale up to act uppon the "regular" world, were everything is a result of statistics (like air pressure which is the statistical sum of random movement). A good exemple is how intricated atoms could theorically convert information at faster than light speed, but if you actually want to use it then the observation equipement needed will keep you under light speed (and it's not something you can get around). So if this turns out to be true, I will be quite amased.

Bonus questions: The article said that had proved this by using a strong electric field to alter the way this reaction goes. Would it be possible to inject something into the birds that would prevent them from "watching" this reaction, so it would go at it's "normal" speed?

Good idea! Let's stick the large electromagnet in the bird's retina, then watch to see if it's flying paterns are different! ;)

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[ceoyoyo (59147)]

Aleph42 covered the basics. Read the linked (in the summary) article on Wikipedia about the quantum Zeno effect.

"Observation" means interaction. If you take one of these molecules and bombard it with photos, atoms, whatever, it will take longer to switch states. The article seems to imply that it's interaction with the magnetic field itself that is slowing down the reaction.

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[Joe Snipe (224958)]

I have a theory based on this [wikipedia.org] there was no actual process to anything until we startes looking for the process. Reading things like this article seem to confirm my thoughts.

I have a question...

[Tenebrousedge (1226584)]

Is this a first? Are there any other known instances of quantum mechanics influencing the macroscopic behavior of anything else? Butterflies, for example? And what happens when the poles shift? [wikipedia.org]

Re:I have a question...

[zappepcs (820751)]

A damned good question. Could changing magnetic fields of the Earth and the Sun be the cause of the bee syndrome that is killing some 30% of all commercial bees in North America?

Bees, like birds, just don't seem to get lost very often... until now. There seems to be no practical explanation of why the bees are disappearing. This might do it. Given that bees are smaller, perhaps the effects are greater on bees? Did the article give any clue as to how the volume of chemical might affect the interactions?

Quite interesting. Given the story of evolution, and knowing that many animals use electromagnetic and quantum type navigation, how likely is it that humans have some similar capabilities?

Not to get too whacked, but does any of this go anywhere toward explaining ghosts etc?

All good stuff

Re:I have a question...

[peragrin (659227)]

Actually the bee problem is mostly identified with pollution. Air born pollution is limiting the range that pollen and other floral scents travel in the air thus limiting the mobility of bees.

Re:I have a question...

[Hadlock (143607)]

... So says a 4 day old slashdot article. Next week we're going to have an article on how the sinking of the titanic influenced thermal currents in the atlantic, reducing El Nino's effect in the pacific, thus causing plants to flower before bees have come completely out of hibernation, leading to starvation.
 
Clearly, since this is the most recent theory, all previous theories are deeply flawed.

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[RealErmine (621439)]

Clearly, since this is the most recent theory, all previous theories are deeply flawed.

Please provide an address where I can send the grant money. Thanks!

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[Inverted Intellect (950622)]

The wording "mostly identified with" hardly implies that all previous explanations are "deeply flawed".

Clearly, since the article in question is only 4 days old your parent poster can't have formed a well reasoned opinion on the matter.

Re:I have a question...

[johannesg (664142)]

The lifecycle of cats is also determined by quantum mechanics.

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[Anonymous Monkey (795756)]

If this occurs in the retina a pole shift might not have any major effect on bird behavior. Eyes process what the landscape looks like, the possession of the sun, landmarks, and so on. Because the ability to sense 'north' occurs in the eyes, logically, the bird would take into account all information it's eyes gathered. This would provide redundancy and increased accuracy, along with making a pole shift an issue of recalibration, and not relearning entire thought processes.

Yes. Chlorophyll

[oni (41625)]

Chlorophyll works by means of Resonance Energy Transfer [wikipedia.org] and that's also a quantum effect - though admittedly, not as cool as the bird navigation thing.

I'd be willing to bet that this didn't evolve in birds. A lot of animals perform long distance migrations. In fact, I bet that this sense is found in most animals. We apes are probably the exception. We probably lost it while swinging from trees. But the genes are probably still there. So, one day you might be able to turn this on in your children.

Re:Yes. Chlorophyll

[exp(pi*sqrt(163)) (613870)]

Quantum effect this, quantum effect that. The fact that your head doesn't fall off is a quantum effect, without which electrons, protons and neutrons couldn't possibly form stable structures. Everything on a small enough scale is a "quantum effect". Saying that chlorophyll works by means of a quantum effect is like saying that computers rely on a one-is-bigger-than-zero effect.

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[tuxgeek (872962)]

Maybe we're over anal-izing the question. From my own observations as sort of an amateur hobbyist zoologist/ornithologist, birds have brains and memory retention, ie, they posses the ability to learn. Perhaps it's just a matter of older birds remember the way to go and the rest follow and learn the landmarks, to someday become the leader of the migration as well.

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[ceoyoyo (59147)]

Apparently the effect is sensitive to only a narrow window of magnetic field strengths, so if something significantly affects the field then the birds get lost. We've had birds through several reversals which argues that birds won't go extinct when it happens again.

No need for a quantum sensor...

[GrosTuba (227941)]

Dude, we know how birds navigate: they follow roads [telegraph.co.uk].

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[MBCook (132727)]

That's an interesting article, I hadn't seen that.

Of course, the article says that's what they do when they know the area. They just use the landscape to guide them. When unfamiliar with an area, it says they use the sun, starts, and magnetic field of the Earth to find out which way to go.

Re:No need for a quantum sensor...

[SpeedBump0619 (324581)]

What color are most roads? What do dark colors do in sunlight? What happens when air heats up? What's the easiest way for a bird to stay aloft?

Lets all say it together...correllation != causality.

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[ceoyoyo (59147)]

Mmmm, roads. You'd be surprised what happens to traffic patterns when you fly your hang glider along the highway.

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[Just Some Guy (3352)]

Thus explaining why birds weren't practical until the early 1900s.

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[CODiNE (27417)]

From your article :

"For long-distance navigation and for birds doing a journey for the first time, they will use their inbuilt compasses and take sun and star bearings.

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"But once homing pigeons have flown a journey more than once, they home in on a habitual route home, much as we do when we are driving or walking home from work.

"In short, it looks like it is mentally easier for a bird to fly down a road and then turn right. They are just making their journey as simple as possible".

Good way to mi

Cool!

[thecountryofmike (744040)]

Schrodinger's Pigeon?!?!

call ben stein

[uberjoe (726765)]

And cue the ID folks claiming irreducible complexity [wikipedia.org] in

3...

2...

1...

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[0xdeadbeef (28836)]

No, they'll deny this. It "proves" that animals have souls.

New class of electronic devices.

[Animats (122034)]

Wow. I want to see the full paper.

If this is for real, there's a whole new class of electronic devices waiting to be developed. The Zeno effect has been observed experimentally, but only down near absolute zero. If it can be observed at room temperature, it could be useful.

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[Rakarra (112805)]

If this is for real, there's a whole new class of electronic devices waiting to be developed.
The Zeno effect has been observed experimentally, but only down near absolute zero. If it can be observed at room temperature, it could be useful.

No, no, clearly this proves that birds brains actually function normally close to absolute zero. The trick is to figure out how they're doing it.

Too late.

[jd (1658)]

A swallow has already patented the technology, along with quantum lifting gear for coconuts.

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[Culture20 (968837)]

What, do you mean an African or European swallow?

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[ceoyoyo (59147)]

You could say that you are constantly observing the Zeno effect. The constant interaction of pretty much every macroscopic object suppresses quantum weirdness. The cat can't be both dead and alive because it is constantly being "observed" by bouncing air molecules, photons and whatnot off it.

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[exp(pi*sqrt(163)) (613870)]

Paper [arxiv.org]. You'll need to wear suitable shades to protect you from the awfulness of the font in which it is written.

quantum Zeno effect

[sm62704 (957197)]

I think Bob's beer [angryflower.com] may be somewhat tenuously relarted to this. There is the "quantum beer effect" whare if it is known that there is beer in the fridge, the beer will for some strange reason disappear. Especially if Tami or Amy are around.

-mcgrew

Favorite comment from the arxiv blog entry:

[NeutronCowboy (896098)]

"Kominis is careful not to mention it but the quantum consciousness people are going to be all over this like freshmen at a sorority party."

Interestingly enough, the Wikipedia article mentions exactly. Personally, I think the Quantum Consciousness idea is hogwash, but that's just because I don't think that that is necessary to explain consciousness. Neural networks are weird creatures, and I'm pretty sure that a good chunk of cognitive ability (including self-identification) can come from that alone.

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[ceoyoyo (59147)]

If you want to believe you have free will then you have no choice but to invoke quantum mechanics.

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[howlingfrog (211151)]

Neural networks are weird creatures

Creatures are weird neural networks, too.

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[argent (18001)]

If someone can show me an empirical model that can predict the nature of a system's consciousness from the system's physical properties I'll change my opinion on this.

Even if I grant your distinction between self-awareness and consciousness, I think that's rather a hard criterion to meet, since untangling a neural network's referents by observation of the network itself is a hard problem, and you kind of need to do that to pull out how far the neural network is actually modeling itself...

Every chemical sensor is a "quantum sensor"

[GroeFaZ (850443)]

because every seonsor has to obey the rules of quantum mechanics. The only difference being which theory is sufficient to explain a certain effect.

Even if pointing this out may be a bit boring, people should stop mystifiying Science and speak of it as cavemen would grunt of a lightning storm. There's absolutely nothing mysterious about Science, that's the whole point of Science to begin with.

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[ceoyoyo (59147)]

Most sensors don't directly make use of specifically quantum effects. They can be described purely in classical terms.

It's like saying that my car is a relativistic vehicle. Sure, it obeys the theories of relativity, but Newton is more than enough to describe it.

Or describing my notebook as a quantum computer.

When people (even non-physicists) talk about quantum mechanical effects, its accepted that they're talking about UNIQUELY quantum mechanical effects. If you see some sort of mysticism in that then t

I fear the distinction is lost on me

[OpenSourced (323149)]

That's extraordinary news because it means a quantum sensor is determining the macroscopic behavior of living birds."

I don't see the novelty. Quantum effects are what determine the behavior, the existence and everything else about the living birds, the dead mammals, the burning stars and whatever else you can imagine.

What do birds see?

[Remus Shepherd (32833)]

I'm intrigued that this effect happens in avian retinas. Do birds actually *see* magnetic north and south? As in, everything to the north is tinted one color, and everything to the south is tinted another hue?

Fascinating. Birds (and possibly dinosaurs) see the world as one gigantic rave. Sometimes I feel I'm missing too much by being born human.

Lost theories, that's what it is

[mapkinase (958129)]

After reading all the comments, I realized striking similarity of the style of wild assumptions of those comments to "theories" about "Lost"

from the schroedinger's-parrot dept

[howlingfrog (211151)]

So this article simultaneously is and is not a Monty Python reference?

Quantum Zeno Effect...

[u-bend (1095729)]

The Zeno Effect must differ from the Xemu [wikipedia.org] effect in that with the latter, the more you observe the event, the more full of crap it is.