Urban warming slows tree growth, photosynthesis
Researchers found that urban warming negatively affects tree growth and photosynthesis, regardless of pest presence. Trees at warmer sites had less trunk growth, accounting for more tree biomass.
Photosynthesis
Articles tagged with Photosynthesis
Future increase in plant photosynthesis revealed by seasonal carbon dioxide cycle
A study published in Nature reveals that global plant photosynthesis will increase by about one-third when carbon dioxide doubles, affecting climate change. This increase is attributed to the seasonal cycle in carbon dioxide concentrations and its impact on photosynthesis.
Researchers discover a special power in wheat
A team of researchers has discovered that wheat seeds also undergo photosynthesis, contrary to long-held assumptions. This finding could lead to the development of new, more efficient crop varieties better adapted to hotter, drier climates.
Rainforest greener during 'dry' season
Researchers found that the Amazon rainforest experiences higher photosynthesis rates during the dry season due to changes in leaf quality and not quantity. This discovery can help scientists assess the forest's health and potential impact on climate change.
SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJul 26, 2016
Springer Nature and Tsinghua University Press present the Third Nano Research Award
Peidong Yang received the third Tsinghua University Press-Springer Nano Research Award for his pioneering work on artificial photosynthesis and nanowires. His invention of a fully integrated system for producing chemicals directly from CO2, H2O, and sunlight has been widely recognized as a major breakthrough in the field.
MSU builds high-tech test track to improve crop performance
Michigan State University's DEPI technology allows for real-world condition testing, enabling scientists to make better plants and understand complex processes like photosynthesis. By monitoring hundreds of plants at once, researchers can study varying behaviors under dynamic environmental conditions.
New clues could help scientists harness the power of photosynthesis
Researchers discovered a gene that enables plants to harness energy from the far-red-light spectrum, potentially increasing plant productivity. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient crop plants and even artificial photosynthesis as an alternative energy source.
New discovery could better predict how semiconductors weather abuse
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a new method to predict material stability in semiconductors, crucial for creating efficient solar fuel generators. By analyzing bismuth vanadate, they found complex chemical instabilities that must be addressed to achieve stable performance.
Watching a forest breathe
Researchers obtained detailed measurements of carbon exchange in a temperate deciduous forest, revealing that trees exhale less CO2 during the day than previously thought. The study confirmed that forest photosynthesis doesn't decline over the course of summer, contrary to conventional wisdom used in climate models.
Arsenic accumulates in the nuclei of plants' cells
Researchers have discovered that arsenic accumulates in the nuclei of plants' cells at low concentrations, impairing photosynthesis. The toxic metalloid can cause genetic damage by replacing phosphorus in genes.
Energy from sunlight: Further steps towards artificial photosynthesis
Scientists at the University of Basel and Zurich have successfully reproduced one of natural photosynthesis' key phases with artificial molecules. They stored two negative charges for 870 nanoseconds, paving the way to harnessing sunlight into chemical energy.
Bionic leaf turns sunlight into liquid fuel
A new system uses solar energy to split water molecules and hydrogen-eating bacteria, producing liquid fuels with improved efficiency. The 'bionic leaf' technology has the potential to be incredibly versatile, making any downstream carbon-based molecule.
Institute of Biophysics research clarifies light-harvesting process in plants
A high-resolution structure of spinach PSII-LHCII supercomplex reveals the arrangement of individual subunits and their interactions. The study clarifies energy-transfer pathways between LHCII and the core complex, shedding light on the light-harvesting process in plants.
Plants display nature's optofluidic machinery
Plants utilize microfluidics and optics to control movement, photosynthesis, and water transport, highlighting the intersection of light and fluid in plant physiology. Researchers explore how plants optimize energy conversion, conserving water through stomata control.
Mimicking the ingenuity of nature
Scientists at the University of Würzburg have developed a supramolecular ruthenium macrocycle that mimics photosystem II, improving water oxidation efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The new catalyst enables the production of high-energy-density fuels like hydrogen, methane, or methanol.
Mechanism behind plant withering clarified
Researchers have reproduced the reaction behind plant withering, revealing a mechanism involving reactive oxygen species during photosynthesis. This discovery could help ensure stable food supplies by cultivating plants resistant to global warming.
Scientists discover C4 photosynthesis boosts growth by altering size and structure of plant leaves and roots
C4 plants grow 20-100% faster than C3 plants due to altered leaf and root structure, allowing for 50% more roots. This discovery could help researchers harness C4 photosynthesis to boost rice yields and improve food security.
Biotech breakthrough: Sunlight can be used to produce chemicals and energy
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered a method to break down plant biomass using sunlight, potentially producing biofuels and biochemicals. The process, known as reverse photosynthesis, uses enzymes and chlorophyll to accelerate chemical reactions, reducing pollution and increasing production speed.
RUB researchers use cyanobacteria for the production of chemicals
The researchers genetically modified cyanobacteria to produce enzymes for basic and fine chemicals, utilizing photosynthesis to supply energy. This approach shows promising potential for industrial applications by reducing unwanted by-products and increasing selectivity.
One crop breeding cycle from starvation
Researchers are one step away from starvation due to increased global food demand and climate change. They are developing a method to engineer crops that can increase photosynthesis under high CO2 and temperature conditions.
SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·DateMar 29, 2016
Reaction previously believed detrimental for photosynthesis proves to be beneficial
Researchers from the Academy of Finland discovered that photoinhibition, a previously believed detrimental reaction, actually protects photosynthetic apparatus by altering function to dissipate excess energy. This finding challenges previous understanding of photosynthesis' different photosystems and their roles.
Photosynthesis more ancient than thought, and most living things could do it
A new study reveals that a more primitive form of photosynthesis evolved in much older bacteria than previously thought, dating back to around 3.5 billion years ago. This type of photosynthesis does not produce oxygen and uses molecules such as hydrogen or iron as fuel.
Gene protects against toxic byproducts of photosynthesis, helping plants to 'breathe'
Researchers at Kobe University discovered a gene that neutralizes toxic byproducts of photosynthesis, enabling plants to 'breathe' and grow under stress. The AOR gene protects nighttime respiration, allowing plants to reach normal size and weight in stressful conditions.
Giant reed is a photosynthetic outlier, study finds
Researchers found that giant reed uses C3 photosynthesis despite being more productive than other crops, with exceptionally high Rubisco activity and efficient water use. This discovery could help improve C3 photosynthesis in other plants.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 7, 2016
How plants protect photosynthesis from oxygen
Scientists have identified a protein crucial to assembling the photosynthetic apparatus, which protects it from oxygen's disruptive effects. This discovery sheds light on the early history of photosynthesis and its adaptation to changing atmospheric conditions.
SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2016
Synchronized leaf aging behind seasonal changes in photosynthesis in Amazon forests
Researchers discovered that Amazon forests' annual increase in photosynthesis is caused by synchronization of old leaf loss and new leaf growth, contradicting assumptions about constant canopy greenness. This finding will help improve predictions of forest responses to climate change.
Leaf quality drives forests' ability to absorb carbon
A new study reveals that leaf quality, rather than leaf abundance, plays a crucial role in forest carbon cycles. The research finds that varying leaf quality can explain twice as much seasonal variation in ecosystem productivity as leaf quantity alone.
Enzymes with the potential to increase wheat yields
A team of plant scientists has identified two superior forms of a naturally occurring enzyme known as Rubisco, which could improve photosynthesis and increase wheat yields by up to 20%. The researchers found variation in the enzyme's catalytic properties among closely related genotypes, including wild relatives of bread wheat.
SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalJournal of Experimental Botany·DateJan 28, 2016
How to train your bacterium
Researchers induce self-photosensitization of M. thermoacetica with cadmium sulfide nanoparticles, enabling photosynthesis and synthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles for efficient solar-to-chemical production.
Phytoplankton like it hot: Warming boosts biodiversity and photosynthesis in phytoplankton
Researchers found that warming ponds had 70% more species and higher rates of photosynthesis in phytoplankton, which could remove more CO2 from the atmosphere. Phytoplankton communities were more species-rich and dominated by larger species, with increased biodiversity and evenness.
Increased CO2 in the atmosphere has altered photosynthesis of plants over the 20th century
Researchers at Umeå University discovered that increased CO2 levels shifted photosynthetic metabolism in plants towards photosynthesis, contributing to global vegetation's ability to dampen climate change. The study used historic plant samples to quantify the impact of atmospheric CO2 levels on plant metabolism.
High yield crops a step closer in light of photosynthesis discovery
Researchers at University of Edinburgh discover key components in algae that enable efficient photosynthesis, leading to potential breeding of high-yield crops. By understanding and replicating these mechanisms, scientists aim to create more productive varieties of wheat, rice, and barley.
$2 million to improve wheat yields for farmers across the world
The project aims to enhance wheat crop yields by understanding the genetic basis of more efficient photosynthesis. By combining diverse expertise and next-generation DNA sequencing, researchers will identify key genes responsible for improved crop performance.
Plants keep one foot on the brakes
Researchers discovered the 'off' switch for starch production in plants, which rapidly shuts down production at night to prevent energy waste. The discovery suggests that the seemingly wasteful approach holds a clever adaptation strategy to adjust metabolism in response to fluctuating light intensity.
SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 2, 2015
Pineapple genome offers insight into photosynthesis in drought-tolerant plants
Scientists sequenced the pineapple genome to understand its unique photosynthetic pathways, such as crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), which allows it to thrive in water-limited environments. The study also sheds light on the evolutionary history of grasses and their ability to survive drought.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Genetics·DateNov 2, 2015
MSU partners with ExxonMobil to advance biofuel research
Michigan State University has partnered with ExxonMobil to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis in microalgae to produce biofuels and bioproducts. The project aims to determine which algae are most efficient under various conditions, leveraging new technologies developed by MSU researchers.
New efficiency record for solar hydrogen production is 14 percent
A team of researchers has achieved an unprecedented 14% efficiency in solar hydrogen production, breaking a 17-year-old record. The breakthrough involves a patented photo-electrochemical process that enhances long-term stability and boosts energy output.
SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 15, 2015
Oxygen is not definitive evidence of life on habitable extrasolar planets
Research suggests oxygen in atmospheres of habitable extrasolar planets might not necessarily come from biological processes, potentially expanding the search for life. Scientists have proposed alternative explanations for oxygen formation, including abiotic reactions on planetary surfaces.
Artificial 'plants' could fuel the future
Researchers have created artificial plants that can produce methane and butanol using semiconducting nanowires and bacteria. This technology has the potential to replace fossil fuels with a sustainable and efficient alternative.
Making fuel from light
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have made breakthroughs in manipulating photosynthesis to create a robust and renewable energy source. By storing sunlight in chemical bonds, they can produce hydrogen, a clean-burning fuel that could power cars and households.
Supercomputers enlisted to shed light on photosynthesis
Scientists have successfully simulated significant parts of the LHC-II molecule using supercomputers, proving that theories align with reality. This breakthrough enables understanding of reactions during early stages of photosynthesis for the first time.
Another milestone in hybrid artificial photosynthesis
A team of researchers at Berkeley Lab has achieved another milestone in hybrid artificial photosynthesis by generating renewable molecular hydrogen and synthesizing carbon dioxide into methane. The new system uses solar energy to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen, which is then used by microbes to produce methane.
SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 24, 2015
Ethylene production via sunlight opens door to future
Scientists at NREL have successfully produced ethylene through photosynthesis using cyanobacteria, a breakthrough that could reduce carbon dioxide emissions and provide an alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based production. The method has been improved significantly since its initial discovery in 2010, with the goal of increasing ...
Chill-tolerant hybrid sugarcane also grows at lower temperatures, team finds
Researchers have successfully developed chill-tolerant sugarcane hybrids that can grow at lower temperatures, similar to Miscanthus grass. The miscanes outperform sugarcane in cooler conditions, maintaining productivity without losses, offering a promising alternative for sugar and biofuels production in the US.
Smart cornfields of the future
Researchers aim to improve crop productivity by optimizing photosynthetic efficiency, a process that has plateaued due to its inefficiency. Designs include smart canopies with layered plants and tailored light-absorbing pigments to minimize light saturation and maximize energy use.
SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 14, 2015
Hematite 're-growth' smoothes rough edges for clean energy harvest
A team of researchers from Boston College and China's University of Science and Technology has developed a new method to harness the power of solar water splitting using hematite and silicon as absorbers. The 're-growth' technique improved the material's surface, doubling electrical yield and achieving a record low turn-on voltage.
A clear look at an efficient energy converter
Researchers have solved the high-resolution crystal structure of a plant protein supercomplex critical to photosynthesis, revealing key pigment arrangements and organization. The findings provide a structural basis for understanding the photosynthetic mechanisms involved in harvesting light from the sun.
Fusion protein controls design of photosynthesis platform
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz identified IM30 as a protein that triggers membrane fusion, crucial for thylakoid membrane system formation and maintenance. This discovery provides a starting point for future research on membrane fusion mechanisms in chloroplasts and blue-green algae.
Can photosynthesis be measured over large areas? MBL, Brown U. scientists find a way
Scientists at MBL and Brown University have developed a system to measure plant photosynthesis over large areas by analyzing spectral signals from satellite sensors. The system uses solar-induced fluorescence in leaves, allowing for the detection of photosynthesis on a canopy scale.
Major advance in artificial photosynthesis poses win/win for the environment
Berkeley Lab researchers develop a system that captures carbon dioxide and converts it into biodegradable plastics, pharmaceutical drugs, and liquid fuels using solar energy. The technology mimics natural photosynthesis, offering a win/win situation for the environment by producing chemicals in a renewable way.
Discovery of new plant switch could boost crops, biofuel production
Researchers at Michigan State University discovered a new switch that regulates plant photosynthesis, allowing for improved efficiency and resilience to environmental stresses. This discovery may aid in developing plants with enhanced productivity and stability, addressing the increasing demand for food and fuel as climate changes.
SourceMichigan State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 15, 2015
Report: Photosynthesis hack needed to feed the world by 2050
Boosting crop yields through high-performance computing, genetic engineering, and modifying plant anatomy may be the solution to increasing global food demand by 2050.
Cell celebrates intersection of food and science in special issue
This special issue delves into the latest research on molecular gastronomy, perception of food, growing crops, obesity, and diet's impact on the circadian clock. Researchers discuss the science behind cooking techniques, flavor creation, and how chefs are pioneering new fermentation reactions.
Getting to the origins of photosynthesis
Researchers Cardona et al. examine evolution of D1 protein, heart of Photosystem II, to propose sequence of events for origin of water splitting in photosynthesis. They find evidence suggests water splitting could have evolved relatively fast after just a few changes to ancestral D1 protein.
SourceSMBE Journals (Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution)·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateMar 10, 2015
Switching on a dime: How plants function in shade and light
Researchers discovered a plant protein, KEA3, crucial for adjusting photosynthetic efficiency in fluctuating light conditions. This mechanism enables plants to quickly respond to changes in light intensity and maintain high energy capture.
Scientists' new analysis of plant proteins advances our understanding of photosynthesis
Scientists at LSU have made a breakthrough in understanding photosynthesis by analyzing two critical plant proteins, PsbP and PsbQ. The study reveals how these proteins interact to facilitate oxygen production, providing new insights into the process.
SourceLouisiana State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 27, 2014
New discovery will enhance yield and quality of cereal and bioenergy crops
A team of scientists has developed a new way to identify genes important for photosynthesis in maize and rice, which can be used for crop improvement. The findings also revealed new pathways and information about how plants fix carbon, helping to prioritize candidate genes for enhancing growth and yield.
DTU researchers film protein quake for the first time
Scientists at DTU Physics successfully captured protein quakes that dissipate solar energy throughout entire protein molecules, validating a long-standing hypothesis. This breakthrough has implications for harnessing solar energy in solar cells and other light-absorption systems.
Hot-spring bacteria reveal ability to use far-red light for photosynthesis
Scientists discovered a new subgroup of cyanobacteria that can absorb and use far-red light for photosynthesis, replacing 17 proteins in three major complexes. This process has a dramatic effect on the organism's physiology and metabolism, producing 40% more oxygen.
Water and sunlight the formula for sustainable fuel
A team of researchers at Australian National University has successfully replicated a crucial step in photosynthesis, paving the way for biological systems powered by sunlight to manufacture hydrogen as a fuel. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of a zero-carbon replacement for petroleum products and transform the economy.
SourceAustralian National University·JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics·DateAug 20, 2014