Scientists and philosophers have long debated what level of consciousness, if any, animals and plants have. Some philosophers have even questioned the existence of all but their own minds, being unable to say with absolute certainty that other human beings have consciousness. These questions all relate to beings we label as “living” or “organic.”
Researchers have found that the act of measuring some particles can either stop or speed up the particles’ decay. Measuring more frequently inhibits the decay. It’s like the proverbial watched pot that never boils.