In an advanced or alien context, this refers to any biological or technological system designed to capture and convert light (or other electromagnetic radiation) into usable energy or information. Beyond Earth's chlorophyll-based photosynthesis, it could describe the radiant energy collectors of a plant-like organism living under a red dwarf star, or the photovoltaic "wings" of a bio-engineered organism. In technology, it could mean ultra-efficient, bio-mimetic solar panels or quantum-based light-harvesting arrays.
Photosystems Example: The "Great Sunflowers" from a sci-fi story that use metallic compounds in their leaves to absorb hard UV light on a high-radiation world represent an alien Photosystem. A futuristic building with a facade made of genetically modified photosynthesizing algae that produce both oxygen and biofuel is a biotech-human hybrid photosystem.
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 3, 2026
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