Deep-sea oxygenic photosynthesis sustained by nonlinear optical effects of hydrothermal minerals

Key Points

• The research aims to demonstrate how nonlinear optical effects of hydrothermal minerals support oxygenic photosynthesis in deep-sea ecosystems.
• Conducted metagenomic analysis in global deep-sea hydrothermal areas.
• Investigated the nonlinear optical effects of sulfide minerals like chalcopyrite.
• Experimented with second harmonic generation (SHG) to convert thermal infrared radiation to visible light.
• Identified a new ecological niche for oxygenic photosynthesis in deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
• Demonstrated effective excitation of the photosynthetic electron transport chain in blue-green bacteria.
• Proposed a new model of energy coupling involving thermal infrared light, minerals, and microbes.