John Ingenhousz

Jan Ingenhousz was a Dutch scientist in the 18th century who discovered that plants produce oxygen through photosynthesis, but only when exposed to sunlight. He showed that light activates the process where plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. His experiments proved that sunlight is essential for plants to produce oxygen, deepening our understanding of how plants contribute to Earth's atmosphere. Ingenhousz's work laid the foundation for modern plant biology and ecology, highlighting the critical role of light in sustaining life on our planet.