[Paradox]

I have never heard of sunlight playing any significant role in the formation of fossil fuels... Please provide documentation...

Sunlight powers the machinery of the Plants, which grow, then die, then get squishied , heated, and turn into fossil fuels.

[OHelix]

I now understand your reference to the sunlight... Thank you...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

You are correct. To say gasoline is stored sunlight is a simplification, but still good science.

[eno_]

Actually, the experiement was not performed to show you could "recycle" CO2. The experiment was performed to show hydrocarbom formation might not require living plant and animal matter as an input. Hence "fossil fuel" might be a misnomer. "Mineral fuel" might be more accurate.