Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Kryptid on 19/10/2008 04:14:55

Title: What consequences would the Penrose Interpretation have for small organisms?
Post by: Kryptid on 19/10/2008 04:14:55

The Penrose Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics supposes that the "cut-off" point between the laws of quantum mechanics and classical mechanics lies around the Planck Mass (about 21.7645 micrograms):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrose_interpretation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrose_interpretation)

The Penrose Interpretation has not been substantiated to my knowledge, but if it were true, what consequences would this have for tiny organisms with a mass less than that of the Planck Mass? Take nematodes, for example. One study that I read stated that the mass of such an individual worm is around 3.8 micrograms (if I remember correctly). Does this mean that the worm can behave in quantum ways, such as existing in more than one place at a time? How would this affect the nematode's ability to survive? Would it be an advantage or a disadvantage? Could this be observed?

Title: What consequences would the Penrose Interpretation have for small organisms?
Post by: syhprum on 19/10/2008 09:54:34

I did not realise that the Planck mass was so large, this means that the vast number of living organisms on Earth are below this limit and that multi kg creatures like me are the oddities 

Title: What consequences would the Penrose Interpretation have for small organisms?
Post by: blakestyger on 19/10/2008 19:03:47

Penrose himself acknowledges that the Planck mass is larger than one would wish, as many objects that are less massive behave in a classical way - there are many obscurities and ambiguities as to how this criterion is to be applied (The Emperors New Mind).

Title: What consequences would the Penrose Interpretation have for small organisms?
Post by: lyner on 20/10/2008 11:33:44

I found this link which chews the matter over quite nicely and at length. Dunno if I'm any the wiser but it's interesting reading.
http://graham.main.nc.us/~bhammel/PHYS/planckmass.html (http://graham.main.nc.us/~bhammel/PHYS/planckmass.html)