Most of our current energy needs are met by photosynthesis, ancient or modern. Increasing the efficiency of natural photosynthesis can also increase the production of ethanol and other fuels derived from agriculture.
However, insights gained from photosynthesis research can also be used to increase energy production in a much more direct way.
Although the process of global photosynthesis is relatively useless, the first steps in converting sunlight into chemical energy are quite effective.
Why not learn to understand the basic chemistry and physics of photosynthesis, and use these same principles to build man-made solar energy ?
This has been a dream of chemists for years, but now it is close to becoming a reality. In the lab, scientists can now artificially synthesize photosynthetic reaction centers that rival natural ones in terms of the amount of sunlight stored in chemicals or electrical energy.
More research will lead to the development of new technologies for efficient solar energy harvesting based on the natural process.
