scinerds:

The Artificial Leaf and ‘Turbo-Charged’ Photosynthesis

Professor Richard Cogdell from the University of Glasgow is taking a synthetic biology approach in a bid to create an artificial ‘leaf’ capable of converting the sun’s energy to liquid fuel. Professor Cogdell explains: “The sun gives its energy away for free but making use of it is tricky. We can use solar panels to make electricity but it’s intermittent and difficult to store. What we are trying to do is take the energy from the sun and trap it so that it can be used when it is needed most.”

Professor Howard Griffiths, University of Cambridge, is also hoping to enhance the potential of photosynthesis by focusing on an enzyme called RuBisCO (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase). It’s a key enzyme in photosynthesis that allows plants to use atmospheric carbon dioxide to create energy-rich molecules, such as simple sugars.

Some plants have evolved mechanisms that act like biological turbochargers to concentrate carbon dioxide around the enzyme for optimal photosynthesis. This boosts growth and production. Professor Griffiths’ research is developing a deeper understanding of these biological turbochargers so that they may one day be incorporated into crops to increase yields.

Though some may find this incredibly surprising, typical crop plants have around 1-2% photosynthetic efficiency! Thus, it is unsurprising that this collection of research has come under the spotlight, as a ‘small’ improvement in crop photosynthetic efficiency can produce considerable results.

Dear Professor Cogdell, 

While I find it commendable that some person on this planet is attempting to outwit nature and amp up the potential photosynthesis of plant life,  the essential problem is the wholesale abuse and misuse of existing vegetative biological organisms on the planet presently.  If we just stopped rampant deforestation and reckless denuding via chemical —>(this practice is a heinous violation of our web of life) and physical machinery, and began to use the plants we have in an intelligent fashion, we would have no shortage of energy.

I attended a lecture by R. Buckminster Fuller, in the mid eighties here in Illinois (USA), where he stated: “We can grow all the fuel we need right now, with no need to ever pump another drop of oil out of the Earth ever again!”

Perhaps I am a complete and authentic idiot, but I believe he was absolutely serious in his convictions regarding energy usage and development.  The issue is not if we can produce enough plant material to fuel our systems, but that we are in an outright battle against the oil industry, who will simply not allow such a transformation to take place. $$$  Not only are they unwilling to allow (suitable) plant materials to be used as transportation fuels, they will not allow them to be used as textile materials, food, medicine, new materials development etc.  I am sure you can see where I am going here.  HEMP.  I know it’s a dirty word politically, but environmentally it is the cleanest and most robust fiber producing plant in existence. I expect science to align itself with elemental efficiencies, else what is the point of scientific measurement? If the truth fits, use it!

So once again we have science (Not that I personally have anything against Science, I actually love the stuff.) reinventing the wheel or at the very least the fuel needed to drive it in endless circles to produce even more useless trash.

Another aspect of this situation is the comically absurd idea that as the population grows, we will without regard for atmospheric consequences, continue to issue an automobile to each person sixteen years of age so they can go out on the ever-expanding highways (yet more greenspace destroyed) of the planet and become useful wage earners ((meaningful (contributors) members of society)).

So if you want to really kick the watts up a notch or two, create a hemp plant which produces even more cellulose, oil, medicine, fiber, etc. per hectare then is presently possible. Then I will slip your name under the door of the Nobel commission.

But an artificial leaf.  You’ve got to be kidding!  You realize that your concept, is sweeping the entire biomass under the corporate carpet in favor of yet another man made experiment.  While I most robustly encourage you to do your best to create some new bountiful synthetic fuel, as that is the course you are committed to; I only wish we could for once show even a modicum of respect for what lay at our feet.

Sincerely,

David L. Nelson

aka: Orbmanelson