Focus on Photosynthesis

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The photosystem II crystal (centre of image) is smaller than the head of a pin. In order to position it better the scientists irradiate it with green light. Helium flowing in from above cools it to minus 260 degrees Celsius. The highly-pulsed and pol ...
The photosystem II crystal (centre of image) is smaller than the head of a pin. In order to position it better, the scientists irradiate it with green light. Helium flowing in from above cools it to minus 260 degrees Celsius. The highly-pulsed and polarised X-ray hits the sample from bottom right. The tip of the EXAFS detector, which is equipped with 30 elements, protrudes from the left edge. Image: Johannes Messinger/ MPI for Bioinorganic Chemistry

Coal, oil or natural gas: all fossil fuels contain the energy of sunlight, stored with the aid of photosynthesis in energy-rich chemical compounds. A researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Bioinorganic Chemistry in Mülheim on the Ruhr working with colleagues from the Technical University in Berlin, the Free University in Berlin and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has shed light on an important detail in this process.


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