The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with carbon dioxide and water is commonly understood as the biological conversion of light energy into chemical energy. This transformation occurs through a series of complex reactions within specialized cellular structures, producing sugars and oxygen as primary outputs.
This fundamental process is essential for life on Earth, serving as the primary source of energy for most ecosystems. It converts atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds, effectively removing it from the environment and mitigating climate change. Furthermore, the oxygen released during this process is vital for the respiration of aerobic organisms, including animals and humans. The initial discoveries and understanding of its mechanisms have been built upon over centuries of scientific inquiry, leading to our current comprehensive understanding.
