Surprise Discovery Could Rewrite the Global Carbon Cycle
Ocean diatoms, like Cylindrotheca closterium, build biomass by both photosynthesis and consuming organic carbon, a finding that may change our view of the global carbon…
Photosynthesis News
Photosynthesis is the biochemical process by which green plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy stored in glucose. This process is fundamental for life on Earth as it forms the basis of the food chain and is responsible for the oxygen in our atmosphere. Photosynthesis occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where the pigment chlorophyll absorbs light energy. The process involves two main stages: the light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle (light-independent reactions). During the light-dependent reactions, sunlight is absorbed, and its energy is used to split water molecules, releasing oxygen and transferring energy to the molecules ATP and NADPH. In the Calvin cycle, this energy is used to convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into glucose, which can be used by the plant for energy and growth. Photosynthesis not only sustains plant life but also supports all other life forms by providing oxygen and organic compounds needed for survival.
Gene Editing Breakthrough: New Technique Boosts Crop Photosynthesis
Researchers from the Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) have successfully increased gene expression in a food crop by altering its…
How Plant Biology Could Revolutionize Renewable Energy
New research has revealed that the hydraulic systems of plants generate a streaming electric potential in sync with their circadian rhythms, presenting innovative opportunities for…
Key Carboxysome Discovery Brings Scientists a Giant Step Closer to Supercharged Photosynthesis
A team from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has made significant progress in understanding carboxysomes, which are structures in certain bacteria…
The Color of Alien Life: Could Purple Be the New Green?
In the quest to discover life beyond our planet, the traditional green color commonly linked with terrestrial life might not be the most reliable sign….
Scientists Unravel the Unusual Cell Biology Behind Toxic Algal Blooms
A distinctive photosynthetic machinery characterizes a unicellular organism present in algal blooms. What are the cellular mechanisms within a single-celled marine algae species responsible for…
Scientists Uncover Atomic Secrets of Photosynthesis
The mysteries of photosynthesis have been unveiled at the atomic level, providing significant new insights into this plant super-power that transformed the Earth into a…
Revolutionary 3D Snapshot Unveils Secret Machine Behind Photosynthesis
Researchers from Hannover and Göttingen have successfully created three-dimensional visualizations of chloroplasts’ copying machines. For the survival of life on Earth, the process where plants…
Sustainable Chemistry Achieved: Scientists Develop Organic Framework Material That Mimics Photosynthesis
Scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have created a microporous covalent organic framework with dense donor–acceptor lattices and engineered linkages for the efficient…
Harnessing Nature’s Blueprint for Solar Energy Innovation
Cells need energy to function. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg can now explain how energy is guided in the cell by small atomic movements…
Accidental Discovery: How a Whiff of an Unusual Chemical Transforms Seedlings Into Super Plants
Researchers have found that treating seeds with ethylene gas increases both their growth and stress tolerance. This discovery, involving enhanced photosynthesis and carbohydrate production in…
Scientists Have Discovered a “Quantum Switch” That Regulates Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a vital process enabling plants to transform carbon dioxide into organic compounds using sunlight. The Light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) consists of pigment molecules…
Solar Panels Reimagined: New Prototype Produces Methane Through Artificial Photosynthesis
Solar panels, harnessing the sun’s energy to produce electricity, are becoming more widespread. While humans are still mastering the conversion of solar energy into fuel,…
Artificial Photosynthesis Breakthrough – Researchers Produce Hybrid Solid Catalysts
Researchers at Tokyo Tech have demonstrated that in-cell engineering is an effective method for creating functional protein crystals with promising catalytic properties. By harnessing genetically…
Mimicking Mother Earth: Crafting an Artificial Carbon Cycle Beyond Our Planet
The artificial carbon cycle, inspired by Earth’s natural process, presents a solution to supplying resources for space missions. Artificial photosynthesis through photocatalytic CO2 conversion is…
From Photons to Photosynthesis: Quantum Computer Reveals Atomic Dynamics of Light-Sensitive Molecules
A quantum computer slowed simulated molecular quantum effects by a billion times, allowing researchers to directly measure them for the first time. Researchers at Duke…
Nature’s Quantum Code: Unraveling the Secrets of Photosynthesis
A cutting-edge experiment has unveiled the quantum dynamics underlying one of nature’s most essential processes. Using a complex cast of metal-studded pigments, proteins, enzymes, and…
Chromium’s Rise: Game Changer in Replacing Rare and Expensive Noble Metals
Expensive noble metals often play a vital role in illuminating screens or converting solar energy into fuels. Now, chemists at the University of Basel have…