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Question
Would the plants of terresterial planets orbiting red giants be able to convert heat into energy instead of light?
Heat and light are both forms of energy. A red star (giant or dwarf) emits most of its energy (or light) in the form of infrared rays, which are not able to support the specific chemical reactions that make up plant photosynthesis. However, any heat source, either external or internal, can create chemicals that can be used by some microbes to extract energy from their environment.
David Morrison
NAI Senior Scientist
September 27, 2005
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