How efficiently plants convert sunlight into chemical energy

3–6%

Plants turn only a small share of light into stored energy

Plants usually turn only about 3–6% of incoming light into chemical energy. Most of the rest that they absorb becomes heat, while a small amount is given off again as a faint glow from chlorophyll.

Africa is three times Europe's size but has a shorter coastline

26,000 vs 32,000 km

Africa covers roughly three times as much land as Europe, yet its coastline is shorter. Europe's shores are broken up by peninsulas, bays and inland seas, while much of Africa has a comparatively smooth outline. A continent's size therefore tells you surprisingly little about how much coast it has.

The destruction of one Temple transformed Judaism

When Roman forces destroyed Jerusalem's Second Temple in 70 CE, Jewish religious life lost its central place of sacrifice. Rabbinic traditions increasingly emphasized prayer, study and religious law, practices that could continue without a Temple. The change helped Judaism survive across communities separated by enormous distances.

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How efficiently plants convert sunlight into chemical energy

Plants turn only a small share of light into stored energy

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