photosynthesise
foh-toh-SIN-thuh-size
Definition
The process by which organisms, such as certain bacteria living in glacial meltwater, convert light energy into chemical energy to fuel their biological activities.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek words 'phōs' (light) and 'synthesis' (putting together), the term was coined in the late 19th century to describe how plants and other organisms use light to create organic compounds.
In the news
The article mentions that microbial communities within glacial meltwater streams photosynthesize, demonstrating that even extreme, frozen environments can support complex life forms.
We tend to picture glaciers as slow rivers of frozen water, but the Byrd Glacier in Antarctica drains an area larger than California through a gap in the Transantarctic Mountains at up to 800 metres a year, dragging enough ice to raise global sea level measurabl
Read the full article ↗Space Daily