Why ‘quantum proteins’ could be the next big thing in biology

Researchers have found ways to turn fluorescent-protein labels — coloured tags used to track the inner workings of a cell — into qubits, the basic units of quantum information. In this form, they can be used as quantum sensors, which could reveal cellular activity and detect molecules associated with disease with unprecedented detail. The development of protein quantum sensors is at an early stage, but could progress quickly, experts say: the approach has been shown to work in principle and the necessary equipment is standard fare.