I realize now why I am not making any artifact progress. If I transcend it doesn't counts towards the artifact, only comprehending does. I wasted so much time.
It wasn't wasted. Every comprehend and transcend makes progress towards one of the artifacts, and makes ascending stronger. You may have been unlucky, and reached for an artifact that was intended for later in the game. That's why ascending without an artifact makes the game easier, and lets you try again in a different way. Good luck, and thanks for playing!
This game has a really unique concept and I like it. However, one thing that wasn't made clear was that the reset button is actually a hard reset, so I ended up losing my prestige bonus, rather than just starting the run over.
Well, it's probably just for simplification. There are only 3 animals that we know of that can use some form of photosynthesis, 2 of them stole the ability from eating algae, so only 1 the pea aphid can do it naturally. Second, if you choose the photophosphorylization(something like that) you can use both oxygen and sunlight. So, it appears plants would be better, at least in stage 1, and at least part of stage 2. I say that because I never made it to stage 3. However, there are factors that could make the animal cell better than plant after enough restarts. It's just too much info to explain in a comment.
 "An Amazing Soul"){kind=icon}
 "Idle Mine: Remix"){kind=icon}
 "Absorber"){kind=icon}
 "EVO Idle"){kind=icon}
It wasn't wasted. Every comprehend and transcend makes progress towards one of the artifacts, and makes ascending stronger. You may have been unlucky, and reached for an artifact that was intended for later in the game. That's why ascending without an artifact makes the game easier, and lets you try again in a different way. Good luck, and thanks for playing!