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In 2018, Atsuko Kanazawa and David Kramer were – mostly for fun – testing a new protocol with the MultispeQ device, measuring plants along the trails of the Uluṟu–Kata Tjuṯa national park and at their resort. To their surprise, they found something exceptional: the Phi2 value measured in a fig tree leaf was close to zero. “Under normal conditions, Phi2 values are around 0.8” Atsuko explains. “When plants are stressed, the value might drop to 0.4–0.6, but never lower.” Even after decades of researching photosynthesis, they had never encountered such a low Phi2 value in a plant that appeared otherwise healthy. Beyond that, the MultispeQ data revealed that the leaf temperature was approximately 45 °C. Atsuko’s first reaction was to check if the MultispeQ might be malfunctioning, but when she touched the leaf, it indeed felt very hot. The following morning, they returned to the tree and measured the same leaf again. This time, the Phi2 value had returned back to normal – the plant was actively performing photosynthesis once more.