Scientists Found a ‘Leak’ in Photosynthesis That Could Fill Humanity’s Energy Bucket
Scientists have studied photosynthesis in plants for centuries, but an international team believes they’ve unlocked new secrets in nature’s great machine that could revolutionize sustainable fuels and fight climate change.
The team says they’ve determined it’s possible to extract an electrical charge at the best possible point in photosynthesis. This means harvesting the maximum amount of electrons from the process for potential use in power grids and some types of batteries. It could also improve the development of biofuels. While it’s still early days, the findings, reported in the journal Nature, could reduce greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and provide insights to improve photovoltaic solar panels.
The key breakthrough came when researchers observed the process of photosynthesis at ultrafast timescales.
“We can take photos at different times which allow us to watch changes in the sample really, really quickly – a million billion times faster than your iPhone,” Dr. Tomi Baikie, from the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory, told CNET.
The team used a technique…
Wanasayansi wamekuwa wakichunguza photosynthesis katika mimea kwa karne nyingi, lakini timu ya kimataifa inaamini wamefungua siri mpya katika mashine kubwa ya asili ambayo inaweza kuleta mapinduzi ya mafuta endelevu na kupambana na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. Timu hiyo inasema wameamua inawezekana kutoa malipo ya umeme katika hatua bora iwezekanavyo katika photosynthesis. Hii inamaanisha kuvuna kiasi cha juu cha elektroni kutoka kwa mchakato kwa matumizi ya uwezekano katika mitandao ya umeme na aina fulani za betri. Pia inaweza kuboresha maendeleo ya biofuels. Ingawa bado ni siku za mapema, matokeo, yaliyoripotiwa katika jarida la Nature, yanaweza kupunguza gesi za chafu katika anga na kutoa ufahamu wa kuboresha paneli za jua za photovoltaic. Uvumbuzi muhimu ulikuja wakati watafiti walipoona mchakato wa fotosynthesis kwa kasi sana. "Tunaweza kuchukua picha kwa nyakati tofauti ambazo zinatuwezesha kuangalia mabadiliko katika sampuli kwa haraka sana, mara bilioni moja kwa kasi kuliko iPhone yako, ""Daktari Tomi Baike, kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory, aliiambia CNET." Timu hiyo ilitumia mbinu...