Black plant life could prosper on other planets
April 25th, 2011 - 10:34 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattNew York, April 25 (THAINDIAN NEWS) A Scientist says regardless of the type of sunlight that a plant receives, photosynthesis might still be possible. The research was conducted by a PhD student and astrobiologist at the St Andrews University, Jack O’Malley-James.
Jack used a model to determine how plants would react to sunlight from different sources. The study has not been published but it was presented at the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno, Wales.
According to the findings of the study, plants can thrive in exo-planets that are considered “habitable zones.” With conditions like that of Earth with the exception of sunlight rays, Jack used his simulation program to determine how the plants will react to reduced sunlight and too much sunlight which might be the case in other planets.
Jack explained that plants mostly pick the color of their leaves mainly due to the source of light that the plant receives. With that fact, Jack said under different circumstances, plants could adapt and develop black and grey leaves.
The project was supervised by Professor John Raven of the University of Dundee, Dr Jane Greaves of St Andrews and Professor Charles Cockell of the Open University.
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