Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis by Hugo Wells is the sixteenth volume in The Alphabets of Science middle-grade non-fiction series, exploring Earth's most fundamental chemical reaction in clear, wonder-filled language. This book unpacks photosynthesis, the miracle process that generates oxygen, builds food and sustains almost all life. It traces the history of its scientific discovery, then explains core biology: chloroplast cell factories, light-capturing chlorophyll, light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle that manufactures sugar. It covers the ancient Great Oxidation Event sparked by cyanobacteria, alongside diverse plant adaptations thriving in deserts, oceans and arctic landscapes. Wells connects photosynthesis to human reality: global food systems, planetary carbon cycles, and how people rely on this process every single day. It also examines forward-thinking topics including artificial photosynthesis, gene-edited crops and solutions for feeding our growing population. Complete with memorable "Hedgehog's Fact" sidebars, vivid full-colour illustrations and a comprehensive glossary, this educational title encourages young audiences to understand, appreciate and protect this invisible gift of nature.