Grab some popcorn: Berkeley Lab scientists have succeeded in capturing a more detailed picture than ever of the steps in the reaction mechanisms in photosynthesis, the process by which plants use sunlight to split water and produce oxygen while making the carbohydrates that sustain life on Earth. More>

Moss evolved after algae but before vascular land plants, such as ferns and trees, making them an interesting target for scientists studying photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight to fuel. Now Berkeley Lab researchers have made a discovery that could shed light on how plants evolved to move from the ocean to land. More>

When green plants absorb more light energy than they can use, they avoid getting damaged by dissipating the excess energy as heat. But this protective response decreases their productivity. Engineering plants’ photoprotection capabilities to minimize this loss could increase crop yields. Two recent studies by Biosciences Area researchers provide several key insights into the molecular details of these mechanisms. More>