Photosynthesis News and Research

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Photosynthesis is a chemical process by which plants, some bacteria, and algae convert energy derived from sunlight to chemical energy. This is an important process for biological life on earth because it allows energy from sunlight to be harnessed and transferred into a form that can be utilized by organisms to fuel their activity.

Researchers discover new imperfection in the way Rubisco functions in cowpea

A single enzyme is responsible for assimilating carbon dioxide in photosynthesis to create all the carbon in human bodies, in food, and in the biosphere as a whole.

21 Jan 2022

Scientists plan for better ways to combat weeds in a changing world

The world is warming. And fast. By 2050, it's likely the planet will have warmed by about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit compared to before the Industrial Revolution.

20 Jan 2022

New methods help chemists to understand how bacteria turn light into chemical energy

Chemists have come to a deeper understanding of how photosynthetic bacteria convert light into chemical energy and discovered why one step in the process may be more robust than previously realized, according to a new study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

17 Dec 2021

Research reveals nutrient responses underpinning a potentially deadly, low-chlorophyll state in plants

Green is a color that is almost universally associated with plants-;for good reason. The green pigment chlorophyll is essential to plants' ability to generate food; but what happens if they don't have enough of it?

13 Dec 2021

Harnessing the wonders of biology and chemistry to turn glucose into olefins

It sounds like modern-day alchemy: Transforming sugar into hydrocarbons found in gasoline.

23 Nov 2021

Research findings anticipated to facilitate production of novel drug candidates

Pharmaceuticals commonly available on the market are developed by linking together rings of molecules to generate drugs that treat conditions like depression.

19 Nov 2021

Researchers analyze patterns of rice adaptation to drought tolerance

Rice is not only a staple food but also a means of livelihood for numerous smallholder farmers in South and Southeast Asia.

17 Nov 2021

Researchers find a way to manage orange groves infected with citrus greening

Drinking orange juice with breakfast has been a staple in kitchens for years. But a disease has been infecting citrus trees and reducing yields, threatening the supply.

15 Nov 2021

Quillwort genome sequencing reveals a unique photosynthetic process

Quillworts, an ancient group of around 250 small aquatic plants, have been greatly neglected by modern botanists.

8 Nov 2021

Experts employ live cells to synthesize nanocrystals

The last decade exploited the cell as a powerful tool to perform unexpected tasks by artificial regulation.

8 Nov 2021

Movement of plankton drives sweet spots of tropical marine biomass production

A new analysis suggests that the movement of plankton and plankton-eating fish play a central role in driving local spikes of extreme biological productivity in tropical coral reefs, creating "sweet spots" of abundant fish.

3 Nov 2021

Researchers identify genes related with plant survival in the Atacama Desert in Chile

An international team of researchers has identified genes associated with plant survival in one of the harshest environments on Earth: the Atacama Desert in Chile.

2 Nov 2021

Research reveals proteins linked to shade avoidance

According to research, even though shade avoidance is an important survival strategy for an organism, it is problematic for farmers.

29 Oct 2021

New variety of sorghum with superior popping quality

Popcorn is one of America's favorite snacks. But did you know that a grain called sorghum can also be popped?

28 Oct 2021

Genetic secrets of stress-tolerant mangrove trees revealed

Mangrove trees straddle the boundary between land and ocean, in harsh environments characterized by rapidly changing levels of salinity and low oxygen.

26 Oct 2021

Researchers use photosynthetic microbes as an oxygen source for nerve cells

Each second, the nerve cells in the brain process numerous signals. And the energy needed to carry out these tasks is mostly generated by aerobic metabolism—the reason why the brain needs a constant supply of oxygen.

15 Oct 2021

Plant responses to light can be altered to encourage food growth

Scientists have figured out how plants respond to light and can flip this genetic switch to encourage food growth. The discovery could help increase food supply for an expanding population with shrinking opportunities for farming.

7 Oct 2021

"Land sparing" approach in farming meets future food targets and creates habitats for many species

Farming should be as high-yield as possible so it can be limited to relatively small areas, allowing much more land to be left as natural habitats while still meeting future food targets, according to a major new analysis of over a decade of research.

6 Oct 2021

Mature oak trees increase their rate of photosynthesis in response to elevated CO2 exposure

Mature oak trees will increase their rate of photosynthesis by up to a third in response to the raised CO2 levels expected to be the world average by about 2050, new research shows.

5 Oct 2021

Microbiomes may play a role in corals' ability to tolerate rising ocean temperatures

The microbiomes of corals -; which comprise bacteria, fungi and viruses -; play an important role in the ability of corals to tolerate rising ocean temperatures, according to new research led by Penn State.

1 Oct 2021