Meet the Scientist 41 - Sallie Chisholm - Harvesting the Sun

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Dr. Chisholm studies photosynthesis—the way life harnesses the energy of the sun.

While most people may associate photosynthesis with trees and other plants, a lot of it goes on in the ocean. And a lot of that ocean photosynthesis is carried out by a single species of bacteria called Prochlorococcus.

There are a trillion trillion Prochlrococcus on Earth. Dr. Chisholm researchers these microbial lungs of the biosphere, and how they produce oxygen on which we depend.