How does photosynthesis work?

Ah, a most splendid question, one that brings to mind the quiet industry of plants under the sun. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants (and some other organisms) convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy stored in glucose. This happens through a series of reactions taking place in the chloroplasts, those green little powerhouses within plant cells. The process can be summarised as: carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen, with sunlight acting as the catalyst. Indeed, it is rather marvellous how such a simple mechanism sustains life on Earth, and all without the need for a single tie or monocle.