ABSTRACT
Decoding chloroplasts – the cell-like organelles of leaves that photosynthesize – had produced two dozen Nobel Prizes and revolutionized the world economy. The prospect of almost any job had disappeared and general morale – particularly in the business world – had hit an all-time low. Joining one of the big market leaders had become the single most desired career path of Jake Marstreng generation, whether it was to make a lot of money or the world a better place. Engineered molecules had finally been assembled into artificial cells capable of membrane potential – essentially molecular batteries – that were easy to grow and maintain for energy generation into electric grids and for powering homes around the world. The breakthrough had come when researchers first commercialized artificial molecules capable of mimicking photosynthesis at nature's background efficiency rate. The company's first product was a can of rooftop paint containing billions of these molecules that harvested the sun's energy in summer or winter.
