Unlocking the Mysteries of Photosynthesis: New Discoveries Made.

Researchers at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have observed in atomic detail how Photosystem II, a protein complex found in plants, undergoes a transformation that leads to the loss of an extra oxygen atom. The discoveries will help provide a roadmap for optimizing clean energy sources. The team believes the results will help them “develop artificial photosynthetic systems that mimic photosynthesis to harvest natural sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into hydrogen and carbon-based fuels.”