Short Wave

A fall mystery: why do only certain leaves turn red?

September 28, 2026·13 min·3-min readnarrativescience
Podzilla Summary (3 min)
TLDR
The episode explores the scientific mystery behind why some autumn leaves turn red, a phenomenon that remains unresolved despite decades of research. While red pigments appear to serve protective functions, experts debate whether their purpose is to shield trees from light damage or to de

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Guest

N

Nell Greenfieldboyce

narrative on Short Wave

Mentions

Books, people, and resources mentioned in this episode.

People

Nell GreenfieldboyceNikki HughesSuzanne RennerMarco Archetti

Topics

BiologyClimate ChangeLong Form JournalismResearchScientific Method

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