Outstanding PBS Deep Look Video: 'Why Do Sunflowers Face the Sunrise?'

Oct 22, 2024

Sunflowers bring out the best in us. They bring us joy, happiness, hope and unity.

But wait until you watch the newly released PBS Deep Look video, "Why Do Sunflowers Face the Sunrise?" that spotlights the research of UC Davis and UC Berkeley scientists.

“What a great video!" said UC Davis plant biology professor Stacey Harmer, whose research is documented in the five-minute video. "It conveys beautifully how amazing the interactions between sunflowers and bees really are."
 
"As a circadian biologist, I'm fascinated by this gorgeous example of insects and plants using circadian clocks to synchronize their behavior and development, respectively," said Harmer, now on sabbatical. "My colleagues and I are working to understand how plants' molecular clockwork controls daily rhythms in many different aspects of growth and development."
 
Deep Look Lead Producer Josh Cassidy said he filmed with "Veronica Thompson in Stacey Harmer's Lab, Benjamin Blackman from UC Berkeley at the Oxford tract and at the farm on the roof of his apartment building and also out at the M Three Ranches (farm) in Woodland."
 
The video begins with asking "Why do sunflowers face the sunrise?" And answers with "To bring all the bees to the yard! These pollinators love warm, bright blooms early in the morning. But how did these plants end up facing east? It turns out they spend their whole life getting in just the right position."
 
UC Davis entomologists assisted, too. UC Davis distinguished professor emerita Lynn Kimsey, newly retired director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology (but who continues her Hymenoptera research and is the executive director of the Bohart Museum Society), and Tom Zavortink, a research entomologist at the Bohart, confirmed the identity of what is commonly known as a "sunflower bee."

The bee was formerly known as Svastra obliqua expurgata. "But, all North American species formerly placed in genus Svastra are now placed in the genus Epimelissodes," Zavortink said. "So, the most current name for the bee is Epimelissodes obliqua expurgata."

Deep Look is a science video series that does amazing work exploring "big science by going very, very small." They utilize what they refer to as "macro photography and microscopy in glorious 4K resolution, to see science up close ... really, really close."

Viewers are raving about the sunflower video, and rightfully so! Some of the comments:

  • Sunflowers are the suns of the land, making a day a bit more bright
  • Bees with massive pollen britches is the cutest thing
  • Pollen pants!
  • Never knew sunflowers quit their rotation business once they bloomed. Beautifully done video, as always!
  • I just love these Deep Look vids! Thank you guys for always putting out such high quality educational videos!!
  • I always look forward to a new Deep Look video. This excellent clip is an example why. Thanks Deep Look
  • This is probably your most gorgeous video.
  • It's a flower that lives by the golden hours of the day every day.
  • Another awesome video by Deep Look!
  • Just as sunflowers dance with the sun, let your spirit buzz with joy and attract the sweetness of life like a bee.
  • This plant got a better circadian rhythm than me.
  • If you're lost and don't know which direction you're facing, use a sunflower to help direct you.
  • Amazing video as always Deep Look team! Fascinating to see what millions of years of evolution can do. We must protect our precious planet and its inhabitants.
  • Sunflowers point towards the sun because they are, in fact, the sun in disguise.
  • Solar-powered plants

The link to the Deep Look video is here. The UC Davis research story by Andy Fell is here. 

By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Author - Communications specialist
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Attached Images:

The newly released PBS Deep Look video

The newly released PBS Deep Look video "Why Do Sunflowers Face the Sunrise?" is a crowd favorite. (Screen shot)

 A bee commonly found on sunflowers is Epimelissodes obliqua expurgata, formerly known as Svastra obliqua expurgata. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A bee commonly found on sunflowers is Epimelissodes obliqua expurgata, formerly known as Svastra obliqua expurgata. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)