About
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen. It is the foundation of virtually all life on Earth — the source of atmospheric oxygen and the base of every food chain. The process occurs in chloroplasts using chlorophyll to absorb light energy.
Photosynthesis is responsible for all of Earth's fossil fuels (ancient plant matter), Earth's oxygen atmosphere, and the removal of CO₂ from the air. Global photosynthesis absorbs approximately 120 billion tons of carbon annually. Scientists are working on 'artificial photosynthesis' — mimicking the process to produce clean fuels from sunlight and water.
# Top 10 Photosynthesis facts
- 1All the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere was produced by photosynthesis — before plants, there was no free oxygen
- 2Earth's fossil fuels are ancient compressed photosynthetic organisms — we are burning 300-million-year-old sunlight
- 3The efficiency of natural photosynthesis is only about 1–2% — artificial photosynthesis could potentially reach 40%
Fascinating Facts
- ◆All the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere was produced by photosynthesis — before plants, there was no free oxygen
- ◆Earth's fossil fuels are ancient compressed photosynthetic organisms — we are burning 300-million-year-old sunlight
- ◆The efficiency of natural photosynthesis is only about 1–2% — artificial photosynthesis could potentially reach 40%
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