Why are plants green?

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentChip asked me why plants are green. I now explain photosynthesis to a man who owns a corn dog loyalty card.

2. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentStep one. Sunlight looks white, but it has all the colours in it.

3. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo sunlight's like a paint can with every colour mixed in? That's wild.

4. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSure. Step two. Leaves have chlorophyll, which soaks up lots of red and blue light.

5. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOh, so the leaf wins the red and blue ones. It's a kid with a full ticket string.

6. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentStep three. Chlorophyll soaks up much less green light, so more of the green bounces back out of the leaf, per Wikipedia.

7. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe green ones get tossed back at you? Rude. Who runs this booth?

8. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentNobody. It's physics. Step four. That bounced green light hits your eyes, so the leaf looks green. Not a booth.

9. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorNina, are there plants that aren't green?

10. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThat was a genuinely good question, Chip.

11. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThanks! So underwater, the seaweed gets a whole different prize wall. I want that lanyard.