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How plants tell time - Dasha Savage

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TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Morning glories unfurl their petals like clockwork in the early morning. A closing white waterlily signals that it’s late afternoon. And moon flowers, as their name suggests, only bloom under the night sky. What gives plants this innate sense of time? Dasha Savage investigates how circadian rhythms act as an internal timekeeper for flora and fauna alike.

Phytochrome molecules detect:

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Dasha Savage
  • Director Avi Ofer
  • Animator Avi Ofer, Axel Bunge
  • Script Editor Emma Bryce
  • Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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