Synthetic biologists have discovered new chemical reactions that could “rewire” plants to more efficiently process carbon dioxide—allowing crops to grow to enormous size. For years researchers have tried to tweak the process of carbon fixation, also known as the Calvin-Benson cycle. But now researchers have determined that enzyme-driven chemical reactions could “fix” much more carbon with much less energy.
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Steroids for Crops?
Synthetic biologists have discovered new chemical reactions that could "rewire" plants to more efficiently process carbon dioxide—allowing crops to grow to enormous size.
Monthly Issue
April 2026
In this monthly issue, we examine how our understanding of energy — and how we source and use it — is evolving.
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