Quantum level mechanisms of physics are still largely based on theoretical modelling, but they still give a lot of hope that they can be put in practice. Photosynthesis is a process that people try to replicate on a molecular level in devices that are engineered. The idea is now over a hundred years old, but the technology was not yet present. Furthermore, we did not have the full understanding of this process at the level of a molecule. Fast forward a century, and we are at a position to fill this gap in our knowledge and implement technological solutions to this problem.
Key Takeaways:
- in 1912 an Italian photochemist first put forth the idea of artificially engineering photosynthesis.
- Giacomo Ciamician’s hypothesis was well ahead of it’s time, as the process of photosynthesis had yet to be understood at the most molecular level.
- Today, German researchers are developing the design to create light-harvesting membranes, proving that Ciamician’s idea was indeed spot on.
“The involvement of quantum mechanisms in energy transport in natural light harvesting is one of the most elusive and exciting aspects emerging from the study of photosynthesis.”
Read more: https://physics.aps.org/articles/v14/140
References:
- Physics.aps.org (Website)
- Mr. Singularity (YouTube Channel)
Leave a Reply