Chlorophyll is a class of magnesium-coordinated porphyrin pigments that function as primary photoreceptors in oxygenic photosynthesis. Its conjugated tetrapyrrole ring system enables efficient absorption of visible light, predominantly in the blue and red regions, while reflecting green wavelengths. In thylakoid membranes, chlorophylls (mainly chlorophyll a and b in plants) are noncovalently associated with specific apoproteins to form light-harvesting complexes and reaction centers, where they participate in exciton transfer and primary charge separation. Their redox-active macrocycle and central Mg²⁺ ion are critical for converting photon energy into chemical potential within photosystems I and II.
If you've ever consumed food made with olive oil, there's a good chance you've unknowingly ingested materials capable of producing lasers. Researchers have recently demonstrated edible microlasers—tiny lasers made entirely ...
A new UC Riverside-led study reveals how common small particles produced by nature as well as human activities can transform upon entering plant cells and weaken plants' ability to turn sunlight into food. The discovery offers ...
Bio & Medicine
Jun 18, 2025
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Researchers have successfully developed a supramolecular fluorophore nanocomposite fabrication technology using nanomaterials and constructed a sustainable solar organic biohydrogen production system.
Nanomaterials
Dec 2, 2024
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Absorption of light initiates many natural and artificial chemical processes, for example, photosynthesis in plants, human vision, or even 3D printing. Until now, it seemed impossible to control a light-driven chemical reaction ...
