Plants set a “bedtime alarm” that helps them survive the night

Plants set their circadian clock in the evening to make sure they have enough energy to make it through the night, according to a new study from the University of York. The experts identified a metabolic signal that the plants use to set their "bedtime alarm."  The researchers believe that the newly identified metabolic signal informs the plant on how much sugar is available at dusk so the plant can adjust its metabolism to survive the night.  Plants use sunlight to produce sugar through photosynthesis, and the …