Phytoplankton flunk photosynthesis efficiency test

Ocean’s food source converts more sunlight into heat than cellular fuel

phytoplankton

RED LIGHT  Researchers used the red light emitted by phytoplankton to track how efficient the organisms are at photosynthesis. 

Hanzhi Lin

Phytoplankton that harvest sunlight in the world’s oceans make more heat than food, a new study finds.