Biologists have long questioned how effectively photosynthesis can occur under low light conditions, with estimates suggesting a theoretical minimum light requirement. Clara Hoppe's research during the polar night of 2020 challenged the notion that life hibernates in darkness. Instead, it highlights the resilience and activity of photosynthesizing microalgae in the absence of light, revealing that these organisms may not simply shut down during harsh conditions. This re-evaluation of life in extreme environments underscores the intricate connections in ecosystems even in dark, frigid waters.
"People thought of the polar night as these desert conditions where there's very little life, and things are all sleeping and hibernating and waiting for the next spring to come; but really, people had never really looked at it."
"Calculations have suggested a theoretical minimum of around 0.01 micromoles of photons per square meter per second, or less than one-hundred-thousandth of the light of a sunny day."
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