Articles tagged with Photosynthesis
Researchers discovered that Venus flytraps convert sugars into carbon dioxide and energy to power their traps, contradicting the idea of passive plants. The plants' digestive process provides a means to capture prey, allowing them to thrive in nutrient-poor environments.
A multidisciplinary team of scientists led by California Institute of Technology will receive funding to develop an integrated solar energy-to-chemical fuel conversion system. The goal is to produce fuels directly from sunlight, reducing dependence on oil and enhancing energy security.
Researchers link bacterial spacing to photosynthesis, providing new insights into ancient fossils and the evolution of life. By studying microbial mats, they discovered a consistent one-centimeter spacing that records the maximum distance bacteria can compete for nutrients.
Berkeley scientists have identified quantum entanglement as a natural feature of photosynthesis, enabling efficient energy harvesting and transfer. This discovery holds implications for the development of artificial photosynthesis systems and quantum-based technologies.
Scientists at the University of Gothenburg have successfully photographed the movement of atoms during photosynthesis, revealing a temporary storage of light energy before chemical bonds form. The breakthrough could lead to more efficient solar panels by mimicking photosynthesis' sophisticated energy conversion process.
BBSRC and NSF announce an intensive workshop, Ideas Lab, to foster new ideas and collaborations on novel biochemical mechanisms for enhanced photosynthesis. The collaboration aims to bring about significant increases in biomass, boosting crop yields and meeting global food and energy security challenges.
Researchers at Arizona State University and Max Planck Institute have discovered how light initiates electron transfer in the photosystem I reaction center. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient artificial photosynthetic devices, providing a clean source of renewable fuel.
Researchers identified a phosphatase enzyme that removes phosphate from LHCII proteins, allowing for the balance of light energy between two photosystems. This discovery has practical implications for improving plant growth and potentially reducing energy bills.
Researchers are studying phototrophic extremophiles to understand the evolution of oxygen-evolving high-energy photosynthesis. The study aims to illuminate gaps in genetic data and explore astrobiology connections, potentially revealing clues about extraterrestrial life.
Researchers from UT Knoxville and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered a way to harness algae's solar conversion abilities to create clean fuel. By using a thermophilic blue-green algae and a platinum catalyst, they can sustain the reaction at high temperatures, producing a steady supply of hydrogen.
A new study investigates the effects of light intensity on pecan leaves throughout the growing season. The research found that shade leaves are less effective in assimilating CO2 than sun leaves, but maintain late-season photosynthetic capacity. This discovery may help commercial growers develop new canopy and crop management practices.
Research found that light and photosynthesis aid in bacterial internalization within lettuce leaves. This makes the bacteria impervious to washing and food sanitizers. The study suggests that the increased internalization is due to open stomata allowing nutrient uptake during photosynthesis.
A new research programme, Towards Biosolar Cells, aims to increase photosynthetic efficiency and produce fuels from sunlight. The project will combine natural and technological components to create solar collectors that supply fuel.
A study published in Ecology Letters reveals that plants' circadian clocks can improve climate change scenarios by accurately predicting CO2 levels and photosynthesis. The internal clock enables plants to adapt to their environment, surviving and reproducing more efficiently.
Researchers found that zinc-coordinated reaction centers have similar physical and chemical properties to magnesium-containing reaction centers. This discovery enables a deeper understanding of photosynthesis structure, function, and evolution.
Microbes adapted to manipulate sulfur and iron compounds to survive in the absence of photosynthesis. The discovery provides insights into the origins of life on Earth and offers a unique laboratory for studying life in hostile environments.
Researchers have created a nano-sized cobalt oxide photocatalyst that can effectively split water molecules, a critical step towards producing liquid fuels from carbon dioxide and water. The clusters are sufficiently efficient and fast, making them suitable for artificial photosynthesis.
A new, higher-yielding rice plant is being developed through a global consortium of scientists, which aims to increase yields by 50% while reducing fertilizer and water usage. The project has received a $11 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has the potential to benefit billions of poor people worldwide.
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley have developed a method to genetically modify microalgae to produce hydrogen and hydrocarbons instead of sugar molecules. This modification allows for more efficient use of sunlight in the photosynthesis process, making it a potential alternative to traditional biofuels.
Hybrid plants exhibit increased growth and biomass due to the increased expression of genes involved in photosynthesis and starch metabolism during the day. This connection between circadian clock regulators and growth vigor could lead to new methods for increasing biomass crops for biofuels and improving food yields.
Scientists discovered that a specific protein allows Miscanthus x giganteus to photosynthesize at low temperatures, whereas corn struggles. The study suggests expressing this gene in corn could make it more tolerant of cold weather events.
Researchers have gained insight into the way Cyanothece, a cyanobacterium, regulates its physiological processes through its circadian rhythm. The study found that genes governing vital processes like energy metabolism and nitrogen fixation cycle on and off with changing light and dark periods.
Researchers at Jülich and Emory University have synthesized a stable inorganic metal oxide cluster that enables the fast and effective oxidation of water to oxygen. This breakthrough could contribute to solving energy and climate problems by producing hydrogen from renewable sources using artificial photosynthesis.
The new method allows researchers to localize pigments with similar fluorescence spectra, providing insights into photosynthesis and cellular function. The study reveals compositional heterogeneity between thylakoid rings, with different processes in photosynthesis occurring in different areas of the membranes.
Researchers found that healthy coral polyps rely on both photosynthetic carbon from algae and feeding-derived carbon for survival. The study suggests a key role for this dual carbon source in coral recovery from bleaching, with implications for the management of these critical ecosystems.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a proof-of-concept device that can split water and produce recoverable hydrogen using sunlight. The system, which uses a catalyst complex to mimic natural photosynthesis, achieves an efficiency of about 0.3 percent but holds promise for future improvements.
Cornell researchers have proven the polymer trap model theory of sugar transport in plants, which could lead to increased photosynthetic rates and carbon dioxide intake. The study uses genetic engineering to silence genes involved in sucrose polymerization, resulting in a buildup of sugars in leaves.
University of Illinois researchers successfully simulated every step of the photosynthetic process using a computer model that mimics evolution. The new findings suggest that by rearranging the investment of nitrogen, they can almost double efficiency in plants. This could lead to increased crop yields and improved plant productivity.
Researchers have sequenced the genome of Chlamydomonas, a tiny green alga with approximately 15,000 genes. The study provides new insights into human diseases associated with cilia dysfunction, as well as photosynthesis and metabolic processes.
A research team led by Neal Woodbury has uncovered a new view of photosynthesis, revealing the orchestrated movement of proteins on a millionth of a second. This discovery helps explain why changing the energetics didn't knock out photosynthesis, and offers lessons for improving organic solar cells.
Researchers used 2-D spectroscopy to study a bacteriochlorophyll complex and detected 'quantum beating,' where light-induced excitations meet and interfere constructively. This discovery explains the extreme efficiency of energy transfer in photosynthesis.
A study by Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley reveals that quantum mechanical effects enable nearly instantaneous energy transfer in photosynthesis. Quantum beats, coherent electronic oscillations, play a crucial role in the process.
Brookhaven chemists aim to replicate natural photosynthesis to produce fuels like methanol, methane, and hydrogen from water and carbon dioxide using renewable solar energy. They are investigating various catalysts, including ruthenium-based complexes, to mimic the natural process of oxygen production from water.
Van Voorhis is developing methods to simulate electron transfer and improve the efficiency of devices such as LEDs and optical displays. His research aims to create a larger portion of energy storage in artificial photosynthesis, potentially leading to more efficient solar energy storage.
Researchers discovered that single-celled cyanobacterium Synechococcus fixes nitrogen gas at night, converting it into biologically useful compounds. This finding sheds light on how hot-spring microbial communities obtain essential nutrients, and highlights the complex metabolic strategies of these microorganisms.
Scientists at Freie Universität Berlin identify a new intermediate state in the Kok cycle, crucial for molecular oxygen formation. This discovery sheds light on the mechanism of photosynthesis and has implications for more efficient solar cells.
Researchers have identified two protein kinases, STN7 and STN8, responsible for regulating short-term and long-term adaptations in plant photosynthesis. The discovery provides new insights into the regulation of photosynthetic proteins and has significant implications for understanding plant adaptation to changing light conditions.
UCR research shows that increasing plant vitamin C levels can minimize ozone's damaging effects, reducing brown spots, stunted size, and lowered crop yields. The study found that higher vitamin C levels in plants also improve photosynthesis, offering a clear direction for developing plants that can thrive in high-ozone environments.
Scientists have developed a new technique to track molecular energy transfer in photosynthesis, revealing distinct energy pathways and quantum mechanical effects. This breakthrough may lead to more efficient artificial photosynthesis systems and sustainable energy sources.
Scientists have discovered that zeaxanthin, a carotenoid pigment, plays a crucial role in protecting plants from excessive solar energy. The study used ultrafast spectroscopic techniques to follow the movement of absorbed excitation energy and found that zeaxanthin interacts with chlorophyll molecules to dissipate excess energy.
A new study by UC Davis researchers shows that photorespiration, long thought to be a wasteful process, is essential for healthy plant growth and nitrogen uptake. Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and low oxygen levels inhibit nitrate assimilation, leading to slowed plant growth.
A team of Purdue biologists has determined the structure of the cytochrome protein complex, critical for photosynthesis in a blue-green bacterium. The study reveals the entire mechanism of photosynthesis and its energy flow, shedding light on animal metabolism.
A recent study suggests that rising ozone levels could lead to a significant loss of $21 million annually in US soybean production over the next 30 years. Researchers found that soybeans suffer from reduced photosynthesis and biomass, resulting in fewer seeds and pods, and decreased seed weight.
This study found that elevated tropospheric ozone concentrations inhibit photosynthesis in soybeans, leading to decreased growth and yield. The results suggest a potential annual loss of $21 million for the US soybean industry based on current production levels.
A new study reveals that elevated carbon dioxide levels can improve corn growth during drought periods, increasing photosynthesis by up to 41% in some cases. The findings suggest that C4 plants like corn may benefit from rising CO2 levels, but other factors such as ozone levels could still impact crop yields.
Researchers analyzed genomes of five bacteria to understand how photosynthesis evolved, finding evidence of horizontal gene transfer and the merging of evolutionary lines. The study sheds light on the origins of complex metabolic pathways and may inspire human-directed biodesign.
Scientists have sequenced the genome of Chlorobium tepidum, a green-sulfur bacterium that performs photosynthesis in the absence of oxygen. The analysis reveals strong similarities between its metabolic processes and those of Archaea, suggesting a possible duplication of genes involved in photosynthesis.
Argonne chemist Thurnauer has made a laboratory version of an energy 'pump' that keeps negatively charged electrons away from positively charged holes. This technology could be used to chemically neutralize toxic compounds, such as hazardous waste, through controlled electron movement.
Researchers found that insect damage affects not just the hole in the leaf, but also surrounding areas with reduced photosynthesis activity. The device revealed an 80-fold increase in furanocoumarin synthesis, a defensive chemical used by plants to boost their defense.
Researchers have discovered that a T arrangement in molecular electronic switches enables efficient communication between distant molecules, facilitating the on and off states of the switch. This finding broadens design possibilities for molecular photonics, solar energy conversion, and nanotechnology.
Researchers created a test-tube photosynthesis system that mimics the metal cluster in green plants, shedding light on how life-giving oxygen is produced. The study, led by University of Delaware chemist Arnold Rheingold, may suggest new strategies for converting sunlight into electricity and enhance our appreciation of the natural world.
Researchers found that some algal cells can grow and survive in near-normal conditions without Photosystem I, a key component of traditional photosynthesis. This discovery may challenge our understanding of plant biology and suggest new avenues for studying photosynthesis.