Israeli researchers have succeeded in growing a two millennium-old date palm seed, making it the world’s oldest germinated pip. The seed was found in the ruins of the Masada, the desert fortress where Jewish rebels offed themselves rather than face Roman capture in 70 AD.
The new plant gives scientists a chance to study differences between the ancient date palm and its modern descendants. Interestingly, it grows better in fresh water while modern palms prefer brackish aquatic environs. This is because, back in the day, date palms grew at relatively clear desert oases, whereas now they grow very close to the salty goodness of the Dead Sea.
Cool. It’s like time travel, but in convenient seed form.
[...] every little bit helps. Is the ghost of George Orwell haunting Lotusland ? I can only hope my seed would last that long. Michael Geist,Canadian DMCA a betrayal. First they came for your [...]
June 13th, 2008 at 5:24 pm