Photosynthesis uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar, releasing oxygen as a waste product. It evolved in single-celled bacteria over 2.5 billion years ago.

But, like us, they require fairly regular sustenance, which they create via photosynthesis. This seemingly magical process occurs through a series of precise steps, each of which we'll cover below.

Photosynthesis, the way plants and some tiny organisms turn sunlight into energy, works incredibly well even though ...

Oxygenic photosynthesis is a complex process with multiple steps. However, the overall process can be summarized using the following chemical equation: 6CO2 + 12H2O + Light Energy à C6H12O6 + 6O2 ...

1. It’s how plants make their own food. Photosynthesis is essentially the process plants use to feed themselves. Instead of popping out to the shops, they convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and ...

For photosynthesis, one photon is all it takes. Only a single particle of light is required to spark the first steps of the biological process that converts light into chemical energy, scientists ...

Although only the first part of photosynthesis requires light, in most plants both parts of the process—including grabbing CO2—happen at the same time, while the sun is shining.

Photosynthesis is a complicated process, which means there are lots of places that can be improved. Steps highlighted with orange leaves show some of the places where researchers think changes ...