Scientists See Photosynthesis Happening in Detail, Thanks to New Laser Technique

For years, scientists have worked to uncover the secrets of photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into food and energy. While much has been known about the process, researchers have not been able to look inside the process in detail – until now.

Thanks to a new laser technique developed by researchers at the University of Toronto, researchers have been able to observe photosynthesis from a molecular level. Using a type of microscopy called ultrafast spectroscopy, the team used a combination of synchronized ultrafast laser pulses and fluorescent probes to observe the steps of photosynthesis as they unfold in real time.

The team was able to confirm the mechanism of photosynthesis, which consists of two steps: light harvesting and charge separation. Light harvesting is the process in which light is converted into chemical energy, while charge separation is the process of splitting oxygen and hydrogen molecules.

Using ultrafast laser pulses, the team was able to probe the system fast enough to capture the movements of the electrons as they transferred through molecules, witnessed the opening of the proteins involved in photosynthesis, and observed the subsequent release of oxygen molecules.

This new technique not only confirms the two-step process of photosynthesis, it helps scientists to better understand what happens at the molecular level when light is converted into energy. The team hopes that this new understanding could lead to new ways to manipulate photosynthesis to improve crop production and other botanical processes.

The research was recently published in Nature Photonics, and it is likely to have a major impact on the way we think about and use photosynthesis for practical purposes. With this new technology, scientists can now not only understand photosynthesis, but harness its natural power to a much greater degree than before.