Unexplained 71-terahertz vibration reportedly detected in mitochondria

According to SmartScience’s summary of a 2026 bioRxiv preprint, researchers at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology detected a 71-terahertz signal in living human cells and mouse tissues. The signal reportedly vanished when cellular structures were dried or disrupted. The team proposes that mitochondria may use polaritons—quantum states formed by light–matter coupling—in their folded inner membranes to optimize their function. SmartScience says weak infrared light tuned to frequencies associated with the proposed state increased ATP production by 10% in human cell cultures. ATP supplies energy for cellular functions. The preprint is still awaiting peer review.