The Incredible Biology Powering Autumn Colors｜Leaf Senescence

To try everything Brilliant has to offer—free—for a full 30 days, visit https://brilliant.org/Clockwork/ You’ll also get 20% off an annual premium subscription. 🍂 You've probably learned why leaves change color and drop from trees in the fall. But what actually causes these color changes? This is the single grandest and most visible moment of PURE BIOCHEMISTRY we get in this life on Earth. If you examine the chemical details here, you'll find a dramatic race against time. So let's explore why trees drop their leaves. We just need to make sure we don't get caught by the monster that secretly lurks in the foundations of photosynthesis. 🤝 This channel is created with the support of all our patrons on Patreon:   / clockworkshow   💌 One great way you can also help out the channel is by joining our newsletter: https://bit.ly/watchclockwork 📚 Primary Sources Cited: Updated molecular details of leaf senescence: Guo, Y., Ren, G., Zhang, K. et al. Leaf senescence: progression, regulation, and application. Mol Horticulture 1, 5 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43897-021-00... A focused timetable on how senescence progresses in one tree species: Keskitalo J, Bergquist G, Gardeström P, Jansson S. A cellular timetable of autumn senescence. Plant Physiol. 2005 Dec;139(4):1635-48. doi: 10.1104/pp.105.066845. Epub 2005 Nov 18. PMID: 16299183; PMCID: PMC1310548. 🧬 Primary Structures Cited: Photosystem ii from a Norway Spruce: https://www.rcsb.org/structure/8C29 🌻 Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @clockworkbio   🔧 Sponsorship note: This video was sponsored by Brilliant.