This is the time of year when Nicole Hughes gets constantly distracted by the fall foliage as she drives around North Carolina. "I'm always looking," says Hughes, a biologist at High Point University.

Behind every autumn leaf lies a chemical shift-chlorophyll fading, carotenoids glowing, anthocyanins rising-that turns survival into spectacle. Every autumn, landscapes across much of the world ...

Scientists have long questioned whether the vibrant colors of fall foliage serve an evolutionary purpose. One theory suggests red pigments protect leaves from sun damage, allowing trees to absorb more ...

On the winding roads near Grandfather Mountain, the first streaks of red and gold are beginning to show. But if you wait too long this year, you may miss them. A drier-than-normal fall across much of ...

As the weather cools down, the leaf colors heat up. Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is now releasing weekly fall foliage reports for 2025. Earlier sunsets and ...