Tag Archives: Photosynthesis

A close-up view of a leaf, the main location where photosynthesis occurs in plants
c. 30-20 Million BCE: Evolution of Advanced C4 Photosynthesis in Plants

Advanced C4 photosynthesis, an evolutionary adaptation in plants, emerged 30-20 million years ago in response to decreasing atmospheric CO2 levels, enabling more efficient CO2 fixation, especially in hot, dry environments, and playing a crucial role [...]

These early land plants, resembling mosses here on these rocks, likely grew near water
c. 470 Million BCE: The Emergence of Land Plants and Their Impact on Earth

Explores the evolution of the first land plants from aquatic ancestors, their adaptations to survive desiccation, and their significant impact on Earth's atmosphere and ecology, including the increase of oxygen and the emergence of wildfires

This image displays the distinct stripes of iron-rich and silica-rich rocks, known as Banded Iron Formations, located at Fortescue Falls in Karijini National Park, Western Australia.
c. 3-1.8 Billion BCE: Decoding Banded Iron Formations – A Geological Mystery

Examines Banded Iron Formations (BIFs), which reveal early oxygenation events on Earth, linking them to the rise of oxygenic photosynthesis by cyanobacteria and the subsequent atmospheric changes.

This image shows a shallow-water kelp forest off the coast of Southern California, where plants utilize oxygenic photosynthesis to transform sunlight into internal energy, like glucose.
c. 3.4 Billion BCE: The Evolution of Photosynthesis – Transforming Earth

Discusses the evolution of photosynthesis, highlighting its impact on Earth's atmosphere and life forms. It traces the development from early anoxygenic photosynthesis to the oxygen-producing photosynthesis by cyanobacteria, leading to the Great Oxidation event.

This image shows contemporary stromatolite domes in the shallow waters of Shark Bay, Western Australia. The inset provides a cross-sectional view of a 2.4-inch-tall (6 cm) fossilized stromatolite from the Old Range of Western Australia.
c. 3.7 Billion BCE: Stromatolites – Windows into Earth’s Early Life

Delves into stromatolites, the oldest known fossil evidence of life on Earth, explaining their formation by microbial groups, particularly cyanobacteria, and their role in the Earth's atmospheric evolution.

This artist's conception illustrates the Archean Earth, a period characterized by stable liquid water, abundant heat and energy, and a growing accumulation of organic molecules, creating a fertile environment for the emergence of life.
c. 4–2.5 Billion BCE: The Archean Eon – Earth’s Dramatic Evolution

Explores the Archean Eon, a period marked by the formation of Earth's earliest continental crust and significant atmospheric changes. It highlights the rise of cyanobacteria and the onset of photosynthesis, setting the stage for more [...]