Discovery of a Potential Physics 'Demon' Hidden within Cellular Structures
Researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have discovered that proteins called ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters, found in cell membranes, exhibit features similar to Maxwell's demon, a hypothetical intelligent being that sorts molecules based on their energy. These ABC transporters, present in almost every living organism, use energy from ATP molecules to control the flow of molecules in and out of cells, regulating the cell's environment. This discovery provides insights into how cells manage molecule import and export, and sheds light on the fundamental aspects of life's building blocks. The research has been published in Communications Physics.