http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=power-plants-engineers-mimic-photosynthesis
Researchers at MIT are trying to determine applicability of plants ability to transform solar energy into chemical energy for meeting growing global energy needs. Fossil fuels are unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you view risks associated with them) a limited resource. As such, we must constantly be looking for alternative sources of energy.
This innovative design focuses on utilizing "chromophores" to influence light harvest efficiency. Specifically:
"stacks of chromophore disks could be tuned to improve the overall efficiency by combining multiple disks of similar size [using] different combinations of bridges, acceptors and donors. One particular configuration of two disks comprising bridges and acceptors stacked between disks made entirely of donors is a good candidate for designing artificial light-harvesting devices"
Given the ability to withdraw a seemingly unlimited amount of energy from the sun would make "oil wars" in the Middle East obsolete. This would definitely have a tremendous impact on global politics and the way we use energy.
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