ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Biological carbon fixation

Okay kiddo, let's start with what you already know. You know that we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide, right? Good!

But did you know that plants do the opposite? They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This is called photosynthesis.

Now, during photosynthesis, plants use energy from the sun to turn carbon dioxide and water into sugar (glucose) and oxygen. This sugar is their food.

But some bacteria and other tiny organisms can also do something similar. They use carbon dioxide from the air or water and turn it into sugar or other compounds. This process is called biological carbon fixation.

Think of it like building a castle with building blocks. You start with some blocks (like carbon dioxide) and use other pieces (like energy and enzymes) to put them together into something else (like sugar).

This process is important because it helps take carbon dioxide out of the air or water and turns it into something else that can be used by living things. And that's pretty cool, right?
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