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One of the enjoyable parts of this time of year is taking in the vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds of the trees as their leaves change colors and fall from the branches – but if it seems the colors aren’t as bold as they’ve been in your memory, there may be some science to back up your observation. Paul Weihe, an Associate Professor of Biology at Central College says that the brightness of the colors on the changing leaves is generally tied to weather. He says autumns that are dry and gradually cool off produce brighter colors than wet weather or an early cold spell – both of which we’ve experienced this year – which explains the slightly muted colors on many of the trees.

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