Prochlorococcus are the smallest and most abundant photosynthetic organisms on Earth, contributing up to 50% of the chlorophyll in the oligotrophic oceans.
Photosynthesis
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Plant Biology, Press Release, Space Life Science
The Evolution Of Photosynthesis Documented By Thylakoids In Fossil Cyanobacteria
Researchers at the University of Liège (ULiège) have identified microstructures in fossil cells that are 1.75 billion years old.
![Images of microfossil specimens of Navifusa majensis. (Demoulin et al., Nature, 2024) [L] one of the microfossils with stacks of thylakoids highlighted using yellow bars [R] magnification of the end of the cell.](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FossilCellsProvide.png?resize=1200%2C838&ssl=1)
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Plant Biology, Status Report
Fossil Cells Provide Evidence Of Early Oxygenic Photosynthesis On Earth
Today oxygenic photosynthesis is unique to cyanobacteria and their plastid relatives within eukaryotes. Although its origin before the Great Oxidation Event is still debated 1,2,3,4, the accumulation of O2 profoundly […]
Posted inHabitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Origin & Evolution of Life, Plant Biology, Press Release, Proxima Centauri, Space Agriculture, TRAPPIST-1
A Spectrum Of Possibilities: Insights Into The Evolution Of Far-red Light Photosynthesis
A collaborative study led by Dr. Christopher Gisriel at Yale University and Dr. Tanai Cardona at Queen Mary University of London, published in Frontiers in Plant Science, offers new insight […]
Posted inBiophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Microbiology & Virology, Plant Biology, Press Release
On The Importance And Challenges Of Modelling Extraterrestrial Photopigments Via Density-functional Theory
The emergence of oxygenic photosynthesis was a major event in Earth’s evolutionary history and was facilitated by chlorophylls (a major category of photopigments).
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Habitable Zones, Plant Biology, Status Report
Photosynthesis Under A Red Sun: Predicting The Absorption Characteristics Of An Extraterrestrial Light-harvesting Antenna
Here we discuss the feasibility of photosynthesis on Earth-like rocky planets in close orbit around ultra-cool red dwarf stars. Stars of this type have very limited emission in the photosynthetically […]
Posted inBiophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Europa, Habitable Zones, Plant Biology, Status Report
Thermodynamic Limits On Oxygenic Photosynthesis Around M-dwarf Stars: Generalized Models And Strategies For Optimization
We explore the feasibility and potential characteristics of photosynthetic light-harvesting on exo-planets orbiting in the habitable zone of low mass stars (<1 M⊙).
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Plant Biology, Space Agriculture, Space Life Science, Status Report
Growth and Photosynthetic Efficiency of Microalgae and Plants with Different Levels of Complexity Exposed to a Simulated M-Dwarf Starlight
Oxygenic photosynthetic organisms (OPOs) are primary producers on Earth and generate surface and atmospheric biosignatures, making them ideal targets to search for life from remote on Earth-like exoplanets orbiting stars […]
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Plant Biology, Space Agriculture, Status Report
Photosynthesis Under a Red Sun: Predicting The Absorption Characteristics Of An Extraterrestrial light-harvesting Antenna
Here we discuss the feasibility of photosynthesis on Earth-like rocky planets in close orbit around ultra-cool red dwarf stars.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Plant Biology, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1
Oxygenic Photosynthetic Responses Of Cyanobacteria Exposed Under An M-dwarf Starlight Simulator: Implications For Exoplanet’s Habitability
Introduction: The search for life on distant exoplanets is expected to rely on atmospheric biosignatures detection, such as oxygen of biological origin.