Recent research suggests that aneural eukaryotic cells may be capable of processing information up to a billion times faster than traditional biochemical methods, thanks to quantum processes occurring within biological systems. 

This hypothesis builds on evidence that structures like cytoskeleton filaments and proteins such as tryptophan exhibit quantum optical properties, potentially enabling computation at picosecond speeds. Such processes could vastly surpass the estimated 10¹⁶ computations per second attributed to the human brain, challenging long-standing assumptions about the upper limits of biological computation. 

These findings are quite significant and imply that quantum information processing might occur in living systems at ambient temperatures—previously thought to be incompatible with quantum mechanics.

If true, it means nature may have figured out quantum computing long before humans did. It also opens the door to a deeper understanding of consciousness and intelligence beyond just neurons. While more data is needed, this could be the start of a major rethink in both biology and computing.