I have an article in tomorrow’s New York Times about the mystery of autumn leaves. Insect warning? Sunscreen? The debate rages. The one thing I was sad to see get cut for space was the statement by one of the scientists that the answer might be “all of the above.” This sort of multitasking is the cool–and sometimes maddening–thing about living things. Very important, and very hard to sort out.
Originally published October 18, 2004. Copyright 2004 Carl Zimmer.