An international team led by scientists of the Arizona State University (ASU) has carried out a groundbreaking study in which they have observed the first snapshots of photosynthesis in action.

Researchers observed how photosynthesis split water into protons, electrons and oxygen. The team termed the finding to be an accomplishment of their main goal that is to unlock the secrets of water splitting and to know molecular movies of bio-molecules.

After observing the first snapshots of photosynthesis, researchers have been able to broaden their understanding level as how plants turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. The knowledge would prove beneficial when artificial plants will be created that would be more efficient than organic plants.

Water splitting process is vital as early earth contained no oxygen. It is only 2.5 billion years ago that the water-splitting process made the earth to have oxygen-rich process. The water-splitting process known as photosystem II (PSII) occurs in photosynthesis.

It produces the oxygen that we breathe, affirmed researchers. Professor Devens Gust, Director of ASU Center for Bio-Inspired Solar Fuel Production, stated that they are researching to come up with a way to turn water into oxygen gas, hydrogen ions and electrons in the similar manner as plants do.

Photosynthetic organisms know how to perform the water splitting process. But researchers said they want to know how photosynthesis carries out the task using manganese and calcium. The study has also been published in the journal Nature.