What If Humans Could Photosynthesize?

This week Reactions takes a look at the chemistry required for a human to photosynthesize. Ohh the sunny science! The sun shines a massive amount of energy onto the Earth’s surface every day. What if people could take a cue from plants and use sunlight to make their own food? From chloroplasts to carbon dioxide, Reactions creates a hypothetical photosynthetic human and gives a quick crash course on the chemistry of photosynthesis.

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Producer:
Elaine Seward

Writer:
Sam Lemonick
Elaine Seward

Executive Producer:
Adam Dylewski

Scientific consultants:
Todd Breslauer
Kyle Nackers
Darcy Gentleman, Ph.D.

Sources

Ever wonder why dogs sniff each others' butts? Or how Adderall works? Or whether it's OK to pee in the pool? We've got you covered: Reactions a web series about the chemistry that surrounds you every day.

Reactions is produced by the American Chemical Society.

[adamisrael]

Imagine being able to walk outside for 30 min and not have to eat

[nuklearboysymbiote]

What if we both photosynthesize and eat?

[Kai-hiii]

My brother is allergic to photosynthesizing. Last time he tried, he turned all red and said it hurt.

[qiai]

I want the ability of photosynthesis. I'm sick of eating and having constant digestive issues. If only, algae smoothies would do the trick, I'd be on it.

[irun_mon]

God I love this channel, you answer many of my questions, keep the good work guys :)

[maxiwaniec]

Yes, I actually plan on working on it.

[redbroccoli]

Nicely researched! I would always try to suggest or see what would happen if humans could photosynthesize and never got the answer from anyone, this video answered most of my questions! Could you made a video on how to would humans be able to photosynthesize in the first place? Like my idea was to add a chloroplast in the egg cell, then I thought of what if it divides, would the chloroplast still be present too, and I tried thinking of the other cells, what would happen to them or the chloroplast, would it just not function due to no photons. Also can we discover or come up with a genetic sequence to make us have chloroplasts nonetheless? I mean I understand why we wouldn't need it, but is it still possible we can get them?

[theexnay]

Is there perhaps a more efficient way to photosynthesize that evolution didnt choose but could be engineered?

[alekai]

If you eat a ton of chlorophyll rich food you can actually photosynthesize a small amount of energy.

[cypressz]

It would definitely be worth it to use a minimal alteration form of photosynthesis. No leaves, no porous skin, instead have the Co2 absorbed from the bloodstream. Why? Because famines happen, and green skin that makes a bit of energy from sunlight would help a lot of people survive fairly harsh conditions. While the energy intake would be pretty minimal it would be better than nothing. Also those minimal changes wouldn't mess with our normal lifestyles too much. It'd just be a small but healthy bonus that would help us live better.

[raciallyambiguous]

I have to disagree with some of the points made in this vid. It seems the vid was made with a "What if humans were plant hybrids" mentality which is not what the title asks.

The green coloring makes sense, but not the leaves and pores.

Plants need leaves to increase surface area, however humans really don't. Plant stalks are either thin, or like trees, don't have the ability to make energy in their trunks. If the chloroplasts were in our skin that would mean that any exposed skin would produce energy. Humans would just be a bit more naked is all. The amount of surface area would be rather large. Also, photosynthesis would not be the only energy source. There are plenty of examples of plants and microorganisms that are both photosynthetic and heterotropic. Meaning we would still eat plants and animals, with photosynthesis augmenting our energy gains.

Arthropods like insects do have air pass in and out of them through pores like plants, but large animals like humans have lungs. We can intake large quantities of surrounding gasses to include carbon. Our circulatory system would be fitted to move said carbon to where it is needed just like our blood cells do oxygen.

So, you guys got one out of three, which for a science channel is actually pretty bad unfortunately.

[extropiantranshuman]

I heard chloroplasts are inefficient, as they don't absorb all wavelengths of light. So to do that for our energy needs, black is the best color.

[AmitCinematicUniverse]

Even if we only had the green skin, it would still make us slightly better, right?
I mean, you don't need to replace the requirement of eating, just reduce it.

Thanos: I like the way you think. This minor change will earn your world one generation to redeem itself before I kill half of humanity.

[EvaClayton.]

Yes, I actually already can photosynthesize, this video must be soooo old. You may as well call me a sunflower. 🌻🙃

[duckydoesstuffbasic]

Yes I want to photosynthesis because it’s fun

[osirisone]

Doing that now my body is rejecting most food sungaze when the Sun rises and sets

[stuckerfam]

This has been a question in my biology classes before. Thanks for the video.

[horsepowermultimedia]

So we'd basically be carnivorous mixotrophs.

[LBrownoffical]

Everything in relative, was covered, except the Human equivalent of Chlorophyll. Is this Melanin?

[MamaFeng]

Photosynthesizing also seems clean as hell bc we wouldn't need to pass stools unless we ate