A group of scientists recently looked into a procedure called Photosystem II, which is the protein complex that photosynthesis employs to absorb sunlight and transform carbon dioxide into energy and ultimately oxygen. This study holds the potential to help scientists develop artificial photosynthetic systems that can eventually convert carbon dioxide into hydrogen and other carbon-based fuels.Scientists have revealed the oxygen-producing that happens duirng photosynthesis using SLAC’s X-ray laser. (Credit: Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory) “Photosystem II is giving us the blueprint for how to optimize our clean energy sources and avoid dead ends and dangerous side products that damage the system,” said Dr. Junko Yano, who is a scientist at Berkeley Lab and a co-author on the study.