Quantum Secrets: CERN Uncovers Entangled Minds Behind Synchronized Sheep Behavior

The CERN flock of sheep on site in 2017. (Image: CERN)

Theoretical physicist John Ellis, pioneer of the penguin diagram, with its updated sheep version. Scientists at CERN find evidence of quantum entanglement in sheep in 2025, the year declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. (Image: CERN)

(IN BRIEF) CERN scientists have found evidence suggesting that quantum entanglement might explain the synchronized behavior of a long-term flock of sheep on site. The study, using advanced trackers similar to those at the LHC, modelled the sheep as spherical particles and identified “moutons” (λ), which may be responsible for their simultaneous movement and vocalisation. Although the findings reached a 4 sigma significance level, further research is needed for confirmation. The research, combining humour and high-level physics, builds on quantum theories that previously explained subatomic phenomena and now extends these ideas to understand animal behavior.

(PRESS RELEASE) GENEVA, 2-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Recent research may offer an explanation for the intriguing flocking behavior of sheep. In a study conducted at CERN, scientists have discovered evidence suggesting that the brains of individual sheep in a flock might be quantum-entangled. This phenomenon, well-known in the realm of subatomic particles, where particles remain interconnected over vast distances, was first confirmed in experiments involving entangled photons—work that earned Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser, and Anton Zeilinger the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2022. Building on theoretical predictions by John Bell and observations made at the Large Hadron Collider, the study now proposes that quantum entanglement could explain why sheep can move and vocalise in perfect synchrony, regardless of their physical separation.

For over 40 years, a flock of sheep has roamed the CERN site, cared for by a dedicated shepherd, to help maintain the grassland and preserve local biodiversity. Beyond their role in land management, the sheep have long fascinated both zoologists and physicists. Their unpredictable yet coordinated behavior has drawn comparisons to the phase changes observed in atoms—behaving somewhat like particles transitioning between solid and liquid states, even exhibiting peculiar phenomena such as the Lamb Shift.

Using advanced tracking technology similar to that employed in LHC experiments, researchers modelled the sheep’s behavior by treating them as spherical particles. This innovative approach led to the identification of specific particles, nicknamed “moutons” and symbolised by the Greek letter lambda (λ), which appear to be responsible for the observed quantum entanglement. The findings, which reached a statistical significance of 4 sigma, provide compelling evidence of this entanglement, though researchers caution that more data is needed before definitively classifying the results as a confirmed observation.

Mary Little, head of the HERD collaboration, recalled, “The fact that we were having our lunch next to the flock was a shear coincidence,” a humorous remark that underscores how the project began from an everyday encounter with the animals. Meanwhile, researcher Beau Peep explained that by approximating the sheep as spherical particles, they could apply models typically used for subatomic particles to understand the flock’s collective behavior. Ewen Woolly, the spokesperson for the HERD collaboration, added that while the evidence is promising, further investigation is necessary to rule out statistical anomalies. CERN theorist Dolly Shepherd even mused about other hidden variables beneath the fleeces, hinting at the possibility of more surprises, such as influences from wolves.

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SOURCE: CERN