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.

Escherichia coli bacteria show path to speed up photosynthesis

Cornell University scientists have engineered a key plant enzyme and introduced it in Escherichia coli bacteria in order to create an optimal experimental environment for studying how to speed up photosynthesis, a holy grail for improving crop yields.

22 Sep 2020

Growing algae for biofuels in the dark using solar-generated electricity

Algae could compete with petroleum as the fuel of the future if only the process of growing it was more efficient. Thanks to a fellowship from the Link Foundation, it soon could be.

16 Sep 2020

Study shows heather plant is a valuable source of antioxidants

Heather is a source of useful biologically active substances that have antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects.

26 Aug 2020

New mechanism that enables spruce trees to adapt to winter discovered

Photosynthesis in conifer forests is one of the most important carbon sinks on a global scale. Unlike broadleaf trees, conifers are evergreen and retain their photosynthesis structure throughout the year.

19 Aug 2020

Novel technique of biofortification converts leaves into nutrient stores

A new collaborative study led by researchers from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) at the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) in Barcelona and the Institute for Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMCP) in Valencia describes a promising strategy to improve the nutritional benefits of crops.

18 Aug 2020

Scientists resolve photosynthetic bottlenecks to increase crop productivity

Plants are factories that manufacture yield from light and carbon dioxide--but parts of this complex process, called photosynthesis, are hindered by a lack of raw materials and machinery.

11 Aug 2020

Small trees could form the basis of drought-resistant rainforests

Small trees that grow up in drought conditions could form the basis of more drought-resistant rainforests, new research suggests.

From University of Exeter 5 Aug 2020

Tinted solar panels can generate electricity and also produce nutritionally-superior crops

Researchers have demonstrated the use of tinted, semi-transparent solar panels to generate electricity and produce nutritionally-superior crops simultaneously, bringing the prospect of higher incomes for farmers and maximising use of agricultural land.

5 Aug 2020

Study could lead to major improvements in crop production

Research led by scientists at The Australian National University could lead to major improvements in crop production.

15 Jul 2020

New study could help develop artificial photosynthetic technology for energy production

Biological membranes perform significant functions in shaping the cell, transporting molecules, sensing the external environment, and producing energy for life.

14 Jul 2020

UVA scientists shed light on how plants create cellulose for strength and growth

New research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals how plants create the load-bearing structures that let them grow – much like how building crews frame a house.

13 Jul 2020

Study shows an entirely new complexity within enzyme machinery

Proteins are the workers in a cell and, as the "basic element of life", are responsible for the most widely varying metabolic processes.

9 Jul 2020

Understanding the role of a cyanobacterial protein in photosynthesis

Cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae, are the first organisms on earth that learned to extract electrons from water and convert sunlight to usable energy through photosynthesis.

7 Jul 2020

Algae show excellent potential for green energy production

A majority of the substances that are used everyday work only in the right three dimensional (3D) structure.

6 Jul 2020

Plant tissue succulence engineering can be used to improve drought and salinity tolerance

After several years of experimentation, scientists have engineered thale cress, or Arabidopsis thaliana, to behave like a succulent, improving water-use efficiency, salinity tolerance and reducing the effects of drought.

3 Jul 2020

Researchers solve a controversial question in photosynthesis

The research team has devised novel approaches to observe energy changes that occur in subcellular compartments in live plants.

1 Jul 2020

Scientists construct a model to explain why plants are green

When sunlight shining on a leaf changes rapidly, plants must protect themselves from the ensuing sudden surges of solar energy.

26 Jun 2020

Researchers identify genes that control the internal clock of plants

How do plants know when it is time to flower? Researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) have studied this question and identified two genes that are key to this process.

23 Jun 2020

Diversity of plant cell gatekeepers could be key to develop crops with bigger yields

Scientists have shed new light on how the network of gatekeepers that controls the traffic in and out of plant cells works, which researchers believe is key to develop food crops with bigger yields and greater ability to cope with extreme environments.

12 Jun 2020

Study shows how ocean virus captures the metabolism of carbon-storing bacteria

Below the surface of the ocean, a virus is stealing the metabolism of the most abundant organism present on Earth. That might be attractive to those who breathe above the ocean’s surface.

28 May 2020