Fall foliage is a highly anticipated event each season. As the leaves gradually change to vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow, people travel from near and far to admire the stunning display.

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.

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 ...

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 ...

The autumn sweater weather and early sunsets are giving way to the beauty of fall's changing leaf colors. Here's when and what to know about the peak fall foliage 2025 in the Northeast. After the ...