Dr Gabriel Moise - University of Oxford

Many animals use the quantum properties of molecules to sense magnetic fields. For example, the Earth’s magnetic field allows them to navigate during annual migrations between winter and summer quarters. Biological systems achieve this without fighting the tendency of quantum systems to hide their quantum nature by environmental interactions but, by taking advantage of these interactions. Taking lessons from biology and combining them with the power of chemical synthesis will lead to robust technologies for quantum sensing magnetic fields.  

On the other hand, electric fields underpin almost all fundamental interactions in chemistry and biology. What is less common, however, is the idea that electric fields may be used to manipulate the quantum spin states of molecules. This gap in our knowledge exists despite the fact that properties which are required for magnetic sensing are also compatible with electric sensing.