Hydrogen Instead of Carbon

Photosynthesis research is heading the right direction to potentially transform our economy and ecosystem. The Australian National University was able to replicate one of the most crucial steps in the cycle of photosynthesis; the splitting of water and hydrogen. Now that ANU successfully understood the concept of photosynthesis and how the hydrogen was split from water, we may have an alternative to fuels that have been harmful to the environment and are at a high cost to the economy. Although the concept has been understood the alternative fuel source is not available to the public yet.

Since water and sunlight are the two sources that are essential to photosynthesis, we will be able to use them for an extensive amount of time. We will be able to use them to make a clean and cheap fuel: hydrogen.

Hydrogen can be used to replace the harmful fuels that are currently being used as well as to trap the released carbon.

Ferritin, found in every living organism, is a protein produced by the mammalian metabolism that originally stores iron but ANU replaced it with manganese to resemble the split in photosynthesis. ANU has been the first research institution to be able to understand the major step in photosynthesis; separation of hydrogen and water.

http://news.anu.edu.au/2014/08/21/water-and-sunlight-the-formula-for-sustainable-fuel/

Submitted by Vanessa Cerda