Photosynthesis ( /foʊtoʊˈsɪnθəsɪs/; from the Greek φώτο- [photo-], "light," and σύνθεσις [synthesis], "putting together", "composition") is a process used by plants and other organisms to capture the sun's energy to split off water's hydrogen from oxygen. Hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide (absorbed from air or water) to form glucose and release oxygen. All living cells in turn use fuels derived from glucose and oxidize the hydrogen and carbon to release the sun's energy and reform water and carbon dioxide in the process (cellular respiration).
Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can create their own food. In plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and water, releasing oxygen as a waste product. Photosynthesis is vital for all aerobic life on Earth. In addition to maintaining normal levels of oxygen in the atmosphere, photosynthesis is the source of energy for nearly all life on earth, either directly, through primary production, or indirectly, as the ultimate source of the energy in their food, the exceptions being chemoautotrophs that live in rocks or around deep sea hydrothermal vents. The rate of energy capture by photosynthesis is immense, approximately 100 terawatts, which is about six times larger than the power consumption of human civilization. As well as energy, photosynthesis is also the source of the carbon in all the organic compounds within organisms' bodies. In all, photosynthetic organisms convert around 100–115 petagrams of carbon into biomass per year.
Frank Turner (born 28 December 1981) is an Englishfolk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities compilation albums and four EPs. Turner began recording for his new album England Keep My Bones, in January 2011. It was released on 6 June 2011 in the UK, and 7 June 2011 worldwide.
Turner was educated on a scholarship at Eton College, where he studied alongside Prince William, and later went on to attend the London School of Economics where he read History. His father, Roger Turner, is the son of Sir Mark Turner, formerly chairman of high street retailer BHS, and had himself also attended Eton before becoming a City investment banker, while his mother, Jane, the daughter of a bishop, is a primary school headmistress.
Turner's musical career began at school, with the short-lived alternative band Kneejerk. The band released three records and played several shows around the UK (including a support slot for Boysetsfire), before disbanding in November 2001. The last record, their only full length, was entitled 'The half life of kissing' and was released by Yorkshire DIY hardcore label Sakari Empire after the band had actually broken up.
William Sanford "Bill" Nye (born November 27, 1955), popularly known as Bill Nye the Science Guy, is an American science educator, comedian, television host, actor, mechanical engineer, and scientist. He is best known as the host of the Disney/PBS children's science show Bill Nye the Science Guy (1993–1998) and for his many subsequent appearances in popular media as a science educator.
William Sanford Nye was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Jacqueline (née Jenkins; c. 1920–2000), a codebreaker during World War II, and Edwin Darby "Ned" Nye (died 1997), also a World War II veteran whose experience in a Japanese prisoner of war camp led him to become a sundial enthusiast. Nye is a fourth-generation Washington, D.C. resident on his father's side of the family. After attending Lafayette Elementary and Alice Deal Junior High in the city, he was accepted to the private Sidwell Friends School on a partial scholarship, graduating in 1973. He studied mechanical engineering at Cornell University, where one of his professors was Carl Sagan, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1977. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by The Johns Hopkins University in May 2008. In May 2011, Nye was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Willamette University where he was the keynote speaker for that year's commencement exercises.
The Light falls so softly on the village's roofs
Spreads indistinctly over valleys and plains
The last grasps of daylight hand onto the trees
The branches retracting... becoming one with the night
In their secret places the late birds bed down
In steeples and pylons their life carries on
And in TV-lit windows we all find our home
On the great star-lit landscape we see from the air
We need no more fear of the dark than the morning
For light needs a place it can play
Shadows eclipsing the light that remains
As ten million hot suns beat down on they prey
While one half is blinded the other watches in awe
The universe turning on its infinite way
Watch as the night sky revolves into daybreak
Wait for the first rays of light
Think of new lives, think of new days
Here as the sunlight goes under
Hope our new hopes, dream our new dreams
Think of new worlds without number
And all we can do is imagine the morning
On worlds that we reach in our dreams
The sun is still shining where the eagle set down
And on the people 'neath the westerly sky
But keep our eyes skyward with hope in our hearts
[Instrumental]
Come on little plants, we’re groovin’ in the sunlight
Spread your leaves and dance, reach up for the blue sky
Soak up all the water, I won’t leave your roots dry
Drink it up now, baby, let your cells multiply, multiply,
multiply…
Photo, photosynthesis x4
Photosynthesis is my favorite chemical reaction
When the plants are growing it gives me so much
satisfaction
Chlorophyll’s the green stuff, I just can’t get enough
Building up your cell walls, so you grow up big and tall,
big and tall, big and tall…
fa da fa fa fa dow
(Dave on lead)
the sun sends rays
travelling through outer space
photons of light
that feed the humnan race
the solar thrill
that turns on chlorophyll
the nourishing kiss
of photosynthesis
to create this extacy
let's use this recipe
add water to light
an electron takes flight
and oxygen is set free
the result is ATP
that's how plants store energy
real cooking begins
when CO2 comes in
it's a sugar factory
fa da fa fa fa dow
plants and trees
are the base of a hierarchy
the rest of us too
live off this chemistry
yes even beef
starts off from a leaf
life's secret is this:
photosynthesis
photosynthesis helps to clear
carbon from the atmosphere
it takes co2 in
releases oxygen
photosynthesis helps to clear
carbon from the atmosphere
it takes co2 in
releases oxygen
Most everybody can agree on what's sexy. I've often liked to think I was above such consensus. But with the doors locked and my drawers dropped, I'm no different 'cause these pictures have been training me. Mission: worship counterfeit bodies. Is this a shakedown? No, no this ain't how I usually find myself when I have a revelation. So here's the breakdown: a total fakeout jumping off the page. Synthesized, sanitized, glamorized. Surprise, surprise. Black bile expulsion: our hopes for beauty make an exit and get flushed. Three courses of self-confidence deported daily from the throat with a middle finger thrust. We're so sick. We have ingested a parasitic tour guide. I clearly have misplaced my trust. An industry built on the backs of insecurity, airbrushing out the human honesty. They've defined "sexy" so narrowly. I'm getting tunnel vision and I'm terrified that my willing complicity means that I will only desire what they have planned for me. I'm so scared. I'm so scared. I'm so scared. I'm so scared, somebody please shake me. Screw this. I'm posting signs: "No Hunting and No Trespassing." These dealers pushing rank moonshine can get the hell out of my pants and get the fuck out of my mind. I'm so sick. I have been sucked in but I'm hacking my way out with this simple ambition: All I want is to be free of judging everyone against a standard that doesn't even look human, now is that too much to ask?