Inside a lab, scientists can achieve a temperature of absolute zero and analyze how particles move in such a state. Outside of the lab, scientists see trees gathering sunlight and converting the energy to glucose within their leaves. These two phenomena seem unrelated—however, a new study from the University of Chicago suggests that particle motion at low temperatures and photosynthesis may be related.

The study found a link at the atomic level between photosynthesis and a process called exciton condensates. Excision condensates is a state of physics where energy flows without friction. Such a state is typically achieved at very low temperatures like absolute zero.

The link that the lab found suggests that energy in photosynthesis flows without friction like excision condensates. In photosynthesis, a photon (a particle of light) is intercepted by the cells of a leaf. The energy is transferred to an electron that enters an excited state. The excited electron begins to move but carries its molecular shell with it. Scientists are calling this shell the hole. Together, the electron-hole-pair are a group. When scientists looked at how the group moved through the cell of the leaf, they noticed similarities to what is known as the fifth state of matter in physics.

The fifth state of matter, known as a Bose-Einstein condensate, looks at how excitons link in a quantum state. Scientists have proven that in this state, excitons group together and act in harmony—their synchronized movement is similar to how a set of bells ring perfectly in tune. This togetherness allows energy to move without any friction. Scientists observed similar behaviors when examining how the electron-hole-pair carries energy to produce glucose in a leaf.

This came as a surprise. Typically, Bose-Einstein condensate can only be achieved at very low temperatures like absolute zero. However, since energy also seems to move without friction during photosynthesis, scientists predict that exciton condensate can be achieved at room temperature.

To study the reactions of photosynthesis, scientists used models that outlined the complex interactions of atoms and molecules. There is no way to see such interactions with the naked eye or even with a microscope, so computer modeling allows scientists to make more in-depth connections.

The possibility of achieving excision condensate at room temperature and at normal conditions opens up new possibilities for generating synthetic materials for future technologies. Allowing energy to flow without friction could be key to boosting efficiency and precision for technologies like MRIs. As for now, further research is necessary to uncover how energy flows in different states.