How We Came to Convert Light Photons into Energy
How We Came to Convert Light Photons into Energy, with a Little Help from an Asteroid from Jupiter
Geoff D’Arcy Lic. Ac., DOM (and CoPilot)
The light of the sun is harnessed by all living things on our planet to energize and govern countless biological processes. Life has evolved to utilize the sun's energy over billions of years, from the first cellular organisms to the mammals we are today. This energy comes from photons, the basic units of light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation. Think of photons as tiny packets of energy traveling through space. They're fundamental to many processes in physics and biology. Essentially, the sun's light/photons act like Earth's life-giving battery.
The process of using light photons to create energy began with the evolution of photosynthetic organisms over 3 billion years ago. plants, algae, and cyanobacteria converted light energy into chemical energy, long before mammals appeared. But it was an asteroid that brought this process into our biology today.
The mass extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, was caused by a massive asteroid 6.2 miles wide, spat-out of an asteroid belt by Jupitor’s gravitational field, that slammed into the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, creating a crater 120 miles wide and over a half mile deep.
This Earth-shattering impact released an enormous amount of energy, triggering wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, and an "impact winter" that blocked sunlight and led to a dramatic drop in global temperatures. This catastrophic event is widely believed to have caused the mass extinction of about 75% of plant and animal species, including all non-avian dinosaurs.
In an instant, this mass extinction event dramatically diverted the course and creation of our human evolutional biology, profoundly impacting photosynthesis and the absorption of photons by photosynthetic organisms. The immediate blockage of sunlight and photons. The dust and soot in the atmosphere blocked sunlight, preventing photosynthetic organisms from absorbing photons. This halted photosynthesis globally, leading to a collapse in the food chain.
Dinosaurs, like all animals, did not directly use photons from the sun to generate energy for their mitochondria. Instead, they obtained energy through the food they consumed. Plants, algae, and some bacteria used photosynthesis to convert sunlight into chemical energy. This process directly utilizes photons. But herbivorous dinosaurs ate the plants, and carnivorous dinosaurs would eat herbivorous dinosaurs (or other animals), indirectly obtaining the energy stored in their prey's tissues. Unable to create their own.
The mitochondria in dinosaur cells, just like in modern animals, would then convert the glucose (from the food) into usable energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) through a process called **cellular respiration**. This involves oxygen, which is also a byproduct of photosynthesis.
So, while photons played a crucial role at the beginning of the food chain through photosynthesis, dinosaurs relied on the energy passed down through the food chain for their mitochondrial function.
What took the place of dinosaurs?
After the mass extinction of the dinosaurs, it was primarily mammals that began to thrive and utilize photons directly through the food chain. Early mammals, shrew-like creatures, took advantage of the ecological niches left vacant by the dinosaurs and survived the mass extinction by taking refuge underground. These small mammals were better at escaping the extreme heat and environmental changes caused by the Chicxulub impact. By burrowing underground, they could avoid the worst effects of the impact, such as wildfires and drastic temperature changes.
Once the surface conditions became more bearable, these mammals emerged from their burrows and began to repopulate the Earth. Their ability to adapt to harsh conditions and their generalist diets, which allowed them to eat a variety of foods, helped them survive and eventually thrive in the post-extinction environment.
It's amazing to think about how these small, resilient creatures played a crucial role in the survival and evolution of mammals, eventually leading to the diverse array of species, such as us. The direct utilization of photon energy came eventually from the evolutionary lineage of these surviving mammals, that led to the development of modern mammals, including humans, who possess specific chromophores (molecules that absorb light at specific wavelengths) in their skin, eyes and blood.
Chromophore molecules can absorb light, they are like solar panels in our eyes and skin.
Melanin is the primary chromophore in human skin, responsible for pigmentation. It is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes found in the epidermis. Melanin absorbs UV radiation, protecting skin cells from DNA damage and giving skin its color. Melanin evolved as a protective adaptation in response to varying levels of UV radiation exposure. Darker skin with more melanin is more common in equatorial regions with higher UV radiation, while lighter skin is more common in regions with lower UV exposure.
Also hemoglobin is found in red blood cells within blood vessels in the dermis and also acts as a chromophore, contributing to skin color by giving it a reddish hue. Hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and carrying carbon dioxide back to the lungs for exhalation.
While the specific chromophores like melanin and hemoglobin evolved over time, the foundation for these adaptations was laid by the early mammals that survived the mass extinction event and continued to evolve over millions of years. The interplay of genetics, environment, and evolutionary pressures shaped these adaptations in human skin.
Today many processes are being discovered in human quantum biology that utilize photons for energy: Here are a few…
Vision: Photons are absorbed by photoreceptor cells in the retina, which convert light into electrical signals for visual processing.
Biophotons: Weak photons emitted by biological systems, potentially involved in cellular communication and signaling.
Quantum Entanglement in Neurons: Entangled photons may play a role in synchronizing neural activity.
Olfaction (Smell): Photons interact with odorant molecules, causing electron tunneling that helps distinguish different smells.
Photosynthesis in Humans: While humans don't photosynthesize, some studies suggest quantum effects in mitochondrial processes.
DNA Repair: Photons can induce electron transfer processes involved in DNA repair mechanisms.
Enzyme Catalysis: Quantum tunneling of electrons in enzymes can be influenced by photon interactions.
Energy Transfer in Cells: Photons can affect energy transfer processes within cells, such as in photosynthesis-like reactions.
Bioluminescence: Some organisms use photon emission for communication and attracting mates.
Magnetic Sensing: Photons can influence the quantum mechanics behind magnetic sensing in certain animals.
How can we intervene to heal or enhance the basic photon dependent processes in our bodies?
Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), also known as photobiomodulation (PBM)works by stimulating the mitochondria in cells to enhance the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Here's a simplified explanation of how it promotes healing:
Photon Absorption: The low-level laser emits photons that penetrate the skin and are absorbed by the mitochondria in cells.
ATP Production: The absorbed photons stimulate the mitochondria, leading to an increase in ATP production. ATP is the primary energy carrier in cells, essential for various cellular functions1.
Cellular Function Enhancement: With more ATP available, cells can perform their functions more efficiently, including cell repair, regeneration, and reducing inflammation.
Tissue Repair: Enhanced cellular activity promotes faster healing of tissues, reduces pain, and improves overall cellular metabolism.
LLLT is used for various medical applications, such as wound healing, pain relief, and treating musculoskeletal disorder, traumatic brain injury, Parkinsons and Alzheimer’s and so much more The therapy is non-invasive and has been shown to be effective in numerous studies. Approximately 18,948 studies on PBM (in databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar), most of which have been added over the last 5 years.