Tag

Photosynthesis

All articles tagged with #photosynthesis

science8 days ago•26 min saved

Spinach-Inspired Photosynthesis Targets Dry Eye in Eye Cells

Scientists at NUS bioengineered spinach-derived photosynthetic machinery to function in mammalian corneal cells via eye drops, using light to generate anti-inflammatory chemicals and combat oxidative stress in dry eye disease, a condition affecting about 1.5 billion people; the work, published in Cell, explores a novel, plant-based approach to treating dry eye by harnessing light-driven chemistry in eye tissues (still at early model stages).

via ZME Science|

#bioengineering #cornea #dry-eye-disease

science12 days ago•5 min saved

Spinach chloroplasts fuel light energy in mouse eyes

Researchers transplanted spinach chloroplasts into mouse eye cells, encapsulating them as LEAF nanoparticles that convert light into energy (ATP/NADPH) for several hours and reduce inflammation, a first step toward plant-to-animal organelle swaps with potential for dry-eye therapies.

via Nature|

#chloroplasts #cross-kingdom-transplant #leafs

science27 days ago•3 min saved

Decade-long breakthrough: first total synthesis of bacteriochlorophyll a achieved in lab

After nine years of work, a US team led by Jonathan Lindsey at NC State achieved the first total synthesis of bacteriochlorophyll a, a four-stereocentre macrocycle central to bacterial photosynthesis. The route uses an asymmetric Michael addition to set stereochemistry, a Knoevenagel condensation to join halves, followed by Nazarov cyclisation and electrophilic aromatic substitution to close the macrocycle with the correct configuration. Despite Covid-related supply challenges and the death of a team member in February 2025 slowing progress, the achievement provides access to a range of photosynthetic tetrapyrroles and could be adapted to other native pigments, with plans to streamline the process and improve yields.

via Chemistry World|

#bacteriochlorophyll-a #macrocycle #photosynthesis

science2 months ago•94 min saved

Earth Without the Sun: Darkness, Ice, and the Collapse of Life

If the Sun vanished, light would reach Earth for about eight more minutes, after which a rapid blackout would plunge the planet into darkness and an abrupt drop in temperature. Photosynthesis would cease, jeopardizing most surface life and food crops, while artificial light and underground refuges might sustain a fraction of humanity. The Moon would go dark, orbits could destabilize, and only hardy organisms like tardigrades and some chemosynthetic microbes might survive long term. Oceans could persist for years in the deepest regions, but the climate would continue to cool toward near‑absolute zero. In the far future the Sun itself will die and our oceans may vaporize as it expands, but the immediate catastrophe would be a swift descent into a dark, icy world.

via Live Science|

#climate #earth #extinction

science2 months ago•99 min saved

Earth’s green revolution: how land plants transformed the planet

Plants first evolved from green algae and began colonizing land around 470 million years ago. To survive, they developed a waxy cuticle to reduce water loss, stronger cell walls, and simple anchor structures; by about 420 million years ago, vascular tissue allowed taller growth and the creation of soils, accelerating weathering and increasing atmospheric oxygen. Later, seeds around 380 million years ago improved reproductive success in dry conditions, and flowering plants around 140 million years ago spread with animal pollinators and fruit dispersal, driving widespread biodiversity. This chain of innovations transformed Earth’s atmosphere, soils, and ecosystems, enabling life to flourish on land.

via Live Science|

#earth-history #evolution #fossils

science3 months ago•16 min saved

Cave cyanobacteria harness near-infrared light, expanding the search for life in the cosmos

Scientists exploring Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico found cyanobacteria on cave walls that can photosynthesize using near-infrared light thanks to chlorophyll d and f, enabling energy capture in darkness and in cave zones possibly untouched for about 49 million years. This widens the known range of photosynthesis, implying red-dwarf–type stars could host life and helping to refine the search for habitable exoplanets with JWST by focusing on longer wavelengths and lower light levels where oxygen could signal life.

via BBC|

#astrobiology #caves #cyanobacteria

science7 months ago•3 min saved

Long-standing photosynthesis mystery finally unraveled

Scientists from IISc and Caltech have uncovered why electrons in Photosystem II transfer only through the D1 branch, revealing that higher energy barriers in the D2 branch prevent electron flow, a discovery that could inform the development of artificial photosynthetic systems.

via ScienceDaily|

#artificial-photosynthesis #electron-transfer #energy-barriers

science10 months ago•5 min saved

MIT Enhances Photosynthesis Efficiency to Impact Food and Climate

MIT scientists have enhanced the efficiency of rubisco, a key enzyme in photosynthesis, by up to 25% using continuous directed evolution, which could lead to faster-growing crops and improved plant efficiency, benefiting food production and climate efforts.

via SciTechDaily|

#climate-change #crop-yields #enzyme-engineering

science11 months ago•3 min saved

Scientists Develop Living Material That Absorbs and Stores CO₂

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a living, photosynthetic building material embedded with cyanobacteria that can absorb and convert CO2 into stable mineral forms, potentially transforming buildings into carbon sinks and offering a sustainable solution to climate change.

via Indian Defence Review|

#carbon-sequestration #climate-change #cyanobacteria

science1 year ago•7 min saved

Revolutionary Gene Discovery Amplifies Plant Growth and Photosynthesis

Scientists have discovered a gene called Booster in poplar trees that significantly enhances photosynthesis and growth, increasing tree height by up to 200% in controlled environments and 30% in the field. This gene, which contains DNA from associated organisms and the Rubisco protein, could potentially boost yields in other crops like Arabidopsis, supporting increased agricultural and bioenergy production without additional resources. The discovery, made by researchers from the Department of Energy's Bioenergy Research Centers, could have wide-ranging implications for sustainable bioenergy and food production.

via SciTechDaily|

#agriculture #bioenergy #biotechnology

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Heart Cockles' Shell Windows Illuminate Symbiotic Algae

Researchers from the University of Chicago, Stanford, and Duke have discovered that heart cockles, a type of bivalve mollusk, have transparent windows in their shells that allow light to reach symbiotic algae living inside. These windows, made from aragonite, focus light using bundled fiber optic structures, enhancing photosynthesis while blocking harmful UV rays. This natural design could inspire more cost-effective artificial fiber optic cables. The study was published in Nature Communications.

via Phys.org|

#fiber-optics #marine-biology #mollusks

science1 year ago•6 min saved

Enhancing Photosynthesis for Climate-Resilient Super Crops

Scientists have discovered key regulatory changes that could enable the shift from C3 to C4 photosynthesis in plants, potentially enhancing crop yields and resilience in a warming world. This research, published in Nature, highlights the possibility of genetically modifying C3 crops like rice to adopt the more efficient C4 photosynthesis, which could significantly improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. The findings are part of a broader effort to develop crops that can better withstand climate change.

via SciTechDaily|

#agriculture #climate-change #crop-yields

science-and-technology1 year ago•2 min saved

Scientists Engineer Photosynthetic Hamster Cells with Solar Power

Researchers in Japan have successfully created photosynthetic animal cells by injecting chloroplasts from red algae into hamster cells, enabling them to photosynthesize light. This breakthrough, detailed in the journal Proceedings of the Japan Academy, challenges previous assumptions about the incompatibility of chloroplasts and animal cells. The innovation could have practical applications in artificial tissue engineering, potentially solving oxygenation issues in lab-grown tissues. The study found that these "planimal" cells not only produce oxygen but also have a higher growth rate, suggesting additional benefits from the chloroplasts.

via Gizmodo|

#animal-cells #biotechnology #chloroplasts

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Scientists Engineer Photosynthetic Animal Cells with Chloroplasts

Japanese researchers have successfully transplanted photosynthetically active chloroplasts from algae into animal cells, specifically Chinese hamster ovary cells, marking the first time photosynthetic electron transport has been confirmed in animal cells. This breakthrough could lead to advancements in tissue engineering, such as creating artificial organs that can grow in low oxygen environments by incorporating chloroplasts to supply oxygen through light exposure. However, further research is needed to maintain chloroplast functionality in animal cells for extended periods.

via WIRED|

#animal-cells #biotechnology #chloroplasts

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Scientists Engineer Photosynthetic Animal Cells for the First Time

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have engineered animal cells capable of photosynthesis, a breakthrough that could revolutionize medical research and lab-grown meat production. By enabling animal cells to ingest chloroplasts, the team overcame a 50-year challenge, allowing these cells to produce oxygen and grow faster. This innovation could improve oxygen delivery in medical applications and enhance tissue growth for artificial meat, marking a significant advancement in biological engineering.

via Earth.com|

#animal-cells #biological-engineering #lab-grown-meat