Biologycalendar_todayLast updated: Apr 2026
What is Photosynthesis?
/ˌfəʊtəʊˈsɪnθɪsɪs/
The process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy — usually from the sun — into chemical energy stored as glucose, using carbon dioxide and water.
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Everyday Example
Every piece of food you've ever eaten can be traced back to photosynthesis. Plants convert sunlight into sugar, animals eat plants, and we eat both. The Sun's energy powers every living thing on Earth through this one process.
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“Scientists are working on "artificial photosynthesis" — replicating the process in solar panels that store energy as chemical fuel rather than electricity. Success could solve both the energy storage and carbon capture problems simultaneously.”
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Did you know?
Photosynthesis first evolved in cyanobacteria approximately 2.7 billion years ago. The oxygen they produced as a byproduct transformed Earth's atmosphere — making complex animal life (including humans) possible.
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Key Insight
Photosynthesis is the most important chemical reaction on Earth. It is the original solar energy technology — and it has been running at planet scale for 2.7 billion years, capturing more energy per year than all human civilisation combined.
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