Why Leaves Change Color in Autumn
The gist
Leaves change color in autumn because chlorophyll breaks down, revealing other pigments like carotenoids and anthocyanins.
Explain like I'm 5
It's like when you color a picture mostly green, but when the green crayon fades away, you start seeing the red, orange, and yellow crayons underneath.
Big picture
This color change signals that trees are preparing for winter by slowing down food-making processes, which helps them survive the cold months ahead.