It’s so amazing to see quantum biology in the real world (Ba’a Atoll, Maldives). When you look closer at the natural world, you see all of these fascinating behaviors that rely on the chaotic world of quantum physics!
For example, these migratory seabirds (black-naped terns) use quantum entanglement (radical electron pairs) to navigate using Earth’s weak magnetic field. This living quantum compass allows seabirds to navigate across thousands of miles of featureless ocean. So cool since the Maldives consists of 1,192 coral islands with no vegetation in between. Did you know that 99% of the Maldives is water? No wonder these birds developed such an ingenious navigation mechanism to get around!
Black-naped terns are present in the Maldives year-round and represent one of the most widespread breeding seabirds in the archipelago.
This mating pair would show up at our pool every day doing their courtship dance and making quite a ruckus as they drank from the pool. Did you know that black-naped terns don’t build traditional nests, but instead lay their eggs directly into shallow scrapes in coral sand or rocks? To defend these vulnerable eggs from predators, the parents will aggressively dive-bomb, scream, and even poop on intruders to drive them away!
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