On 18 Jun 2014, at 07:27, meekerdb wrote:
On 6/17/2014 9:36 PM, 'Chris de Morsella' via Everything List wrote:
Pretty neat trick.. using quantum coherence to allow energy from
captured
sunlight to get to the algae's photosynthesis reaction centers as
fast as
possible.
Quantum biology: Algae may prove to be key ingredient for organic
solar
cells
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/8680/20140617/algae-may-prove-key-ingredie
nt-organic-solar-cells.htm
A research team led by Australian scientists says a strange quantum
phenomenon during photosynthesis that allows algae to survive in
low lights
levels might lead to more efficient organic-based solar cells.
The exact function of the quantum effect known as coherence in
algae is
unknown, they say, but likely is how they harvest energy from the
sun at low
light levels.
"We studied tiny single-celled algae called cryptophytes that
thrive in the
bottom of pools of water, or under thick ice, where very little light
reaches them," says senior study author Paul Curmi of the
University of New
South Wales.
What is baffling to me is that photosynthesis in algae relies on
absorption in the red and blue part of the spectrum, but reflects
the big green part in between?? Why didn't it evolve another
pigment to capture that in order to live in low light conditions?
Interesting question, and ... interesting thread :)
Bruno
http://iridia.ulb.ac.be/~marchal/
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