The Science behind Autumn Leaf
- Kobayashi Shoji
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
It's still hot in Osaka, but the autumnal equinox has passed and signs of autumn are gradually beginning to appear.
Ms. Audreyana Ariella, a first-year master's student, is highly creative.
In just a short amount of time, she created a wonderful flyer explaining the changing of the autumn leaves!
She even made it in both Japanese and English!
Please take a look.
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🍂Why do leaves change color in autumn?🍂
In fact, it's all the work of molecules🧪✨
🟢 Green → 「chlorophyll」
🟡 Yellow → 「Carotenoids」
🔴 Red → 「anthocyanin」
🤎 Brown → 「flobafen」
When temperatures drop, chlorophyll breaks down, revealing the yellow carotenoids hidden in the leaves.
Sunlight synthesizes anthocyanins, adding a vibrant red color.
On the other hand, leaves that cannot produce anthocyanins will develop phlobaphenes and eventually turn brown.
Autumn leaves are not just a change of color. They're the result of molecular-level changes occurring within the leaves!!
Chemistry is so fascinating!
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