Research pinpoints role of 'helper' atoms in oxygen release
Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - 08:00
in Physics & Chemistry
(Phys.org) —Experiments at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory solve a long-standing mystery in the role calcium atoms serve in a chemical reaction that releases oxygen into the air we breathe. The results offer new clues about atomic-scale processes that drive the life-sustaining cycle of photosynthesis and could help forge a foundation for producing cleaner energy sources by synthesizing nature's handiwork.