A brown xanthophyll pigment found in brown algae and diatoms that helps absorb light for photosynthesis.
From fucus (seaweed) combined with xanthin/xantho- (Greek for yellow) with chemical suffix -in. Named in the early 20th century when researchers isolated this light-absorbing pigment.
Fucoxanthin is the secret reason brown algae are brown instead of green—this pigment is so efficient at capturing light that it actually lets them thrive in deeper, dimmer ocean water where green algae can't survive, giving them an evolutionary advantage.
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