Collaborate Disseminate
Photosynthesis is one of nature’s most useful chemical reactions, so it’s not surprising that scientists often try to mimic it. Now, researchers from the Max Planck Institute have developed a new way to make hybrid synthetic living cells that can use p… Continue reading New technique makes thousands of semi-synthetic photosynthesis cells
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing steadily, having recently reached the highest concentration in human history. While that’s undoubtedly bad news for the planet, one argued silver lining is that plants are better off due to m… Continue reading Study shows why trees won’t benefit much from extra CO2 in the air
We think of hacking as bending technology to our will. But some systems are biological, and we’re also starting to see more hacking in that area. This should excite science fiction fans used to with reading about cultures that work with biological tech, so maybe we’ll get there in the real world too. Hacking farm crops and animals goes back centuries, although we are definitely getting better at it. A case in point: scientists have found a way to make photosynthesis better and this should lead to more productive crops.
We learned in school that plants use carbon dioxide and …read more
A plant-robot cyborg developed by researchers at MIT uses electrodes, light detectors, and wheels to save a plant from perishing. Continue reading Cyborg Plant Controls a Robot to Move Itself Towards Light
Carbon dioxide levels might increase even more rapidly than expected based on new research on the molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis. Continue reading Climate Models Overestimate How Much CO2 Plants Can Remove From the Atmosphere
Battery cells work by chemical reactions, and the fascinating Hybrid Microbial Fuel Cell design by [Josh Starnes] is no different. True, batteries don’t normally contain life, but the process coughs up useful electrons all the same; 1.7 V per cell in [Josh]’s design, to be precise. His proof of concept consists of eight cells in parallel, enough to give his cell phone a charge via a DC-DC boost converter. He says it’s not known how long this can be expected to last before the voltage drops to an unusable level, but it works!
There are two complementary sides to …read more
Continue reading Micro-Organisms Give Up the Volts in this Biological Battery
The pink pigments help answer the question of why complex life took so long to emerge. Continue reading The Oldest Color Ever Discovered Is 1.1 Billion Years Old
It’s not exactly plants that grow in the dark, but new research points that way to more sunlight-efficient crops. Continue reading Crops that Can Grow in the Dark? Not Yet, But It’s a Step