Prompt Cast
The Science Behind Why Leaves Change Colors in the Fall
TLDR Leaves change colors in the fall due to a decrease in chlorophyll production and the takeover of other pigments like keratin and xanthophil. The amount of stress the plant experiences and the production of anthocyanins also play a role in the vibrant red, yellow, and orange colors of fall leaves.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Leaves change colors in the fall.
03:29
Leaves change colors in the fall and some of the best places to see the vibrant colors are in New England, the Southeast, and out West.
06:57
The Shoshone have a story about the Great Bear in the sky that explains why leaves turn red, while the yellow color is said to come from the bear's fat splashing out of the pot when it's cooked, but science is not completely sure why leaves change color.
10:16
Leaves stop producing chlorophyll and other pigments like keratin and xanthophil take over, resulting in the red, yellow, and orange colors of fall leaves.
13:45
The production of anthocyanins in leaves during the fall is influenced by the amount of stress the plant is experiencing, with wet summers resulting in fewer red leaves and dry summers leading to more red leaves.
17:16
The podcast episode concludes with a discussion about an app called Leaf Peeper that allows users to track the changing colors of leaves in different regions of the United States and share photos on social media.
20:53
The section does not contain any relevant information about why leaves change colors in the fall.
24:25
This section does not contain any relevant information about why leaves change colors in the fall.
Categories:
Society & Culture
