Energy From Peas?
Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 12:36
in Physics & Chemistry
Tel Aviv University biologists say a solution to our search for alternative energy may come from an unexpected source ― peas. Researchers isolating minute crystals of the PSI super complex from the pea plant suggests these crystals can be illuminated and used as small battery chargers or form the core of more efficient man-made solar cells. To generate useful energy, plants have evolved very sophisticated "nano-machinery" which operates with light as its energy source and gives a perfect quantum yield of 100%. Called the Photosystem I (PSI) complex, this complex was isolated from pea leaves and crystallized, which enabled researchers to describe in detail its intricate structure. read more