Nature, generation mechanisms, and life-connection of biophotons

Determine the physical nature of biophotons emitted by living organisms, establish the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms responsible for their generation, and ascertain how biophoton emission is connected to life processes in living systems.

Background

The paper reviews ultra-weak photon emissions (biophotons) observed across living organisms and summarizes their key characteristics, including spectral range and sensitivity to stress. Despite many experimental observations, the origin and functional role of biophotons remain unsettled.

Two non-mutually-exclusive hypotheses are discussed: (i) random radiative decay following metabolic events (e.g., oxidative processes and radical reactions) and (ii) generation by a coherent electromagnetic field within and between cells. Clarifying the nature and generation of biophotons, and their connection to life, is central to interpreting diverse experimental data and potential information-transfer roles.