“For thousands of years, Judean date palm trees were one of the most recognizable and welcome sights for people living in the Middle East — widely cultivated throughout the region for their sweet fruit, and for the cool shade they offered from the blazing desert sun.
From its founding some 3,000 years ago, to the dawn of the Common Era, the trees became a staple crop in the Kingdom of Judea, even garnering several shout-outs in the Old Testament. Judean palm trees would come to serve as one of the kingdom’s chief symbols of good fortune; King David named his daughter, Tamar, after the plant’s name in Hebrew.
By the time the Roman Empire sought to usurp control of the kingdom in 70 AD, broad forests of these trees flourished as a staple crop to the Judean economy — a fact that made them a prime resource for the invading army to destroy. Sadly, around the year 500 AD, the once plentiful palm had been completely wiped out, driven to extinction for the sake of conquest.
In the centuries that followed, first-hand knowledge of the tree slipped from memory to legend. Up until recently, that is.
During excavations at the site of Herod the Great’s palace in Israel in the early 1960’s, archeologists unearthed a small stockpile of seeds stowed in a clay jar dating back 2,000 years. For the next four decades, the ancient seeds were kept in a drawer at Tel Aviv’s Bar-Ilan University. But then, in 2005, botanical researcher Elaine Solowey decided to plant one and see what, if anything, would sprout.
“I assumed the food in the seed would be no good after all that time. How could it be?“ said Solowey. She was soon proven wrong.
Today, the living archeological treasure continues to grow and thrive; In 2011, it even produced its first flower — a heartening sign that the ancient survivor was eager to reproduce. It has been proposed that the tree be cross-bred with closely related palm types, but it would likely take years for it to begin producing any of its famed fruits. Meanwhile, Solowey is working to revive other age-old trees from their long dormancy.”
Here’s a ten year update. The scientist, Elaine Solowey, has germinated and grown other ancient date palm seeds and there are a couple of female plants that Methuselah could pollinate.
THAT IS FUCKING TERRIFYING WHY DO PEOPLE FIND THAT BEAUTIFUL?! THERE’S A BIG FUCKING GAPING HOLE IN THE MOTHERFUCKIN OCEAN AND WATER IS DISAPPEARING INTO IT WHERE DOES IT GO?!
*Under The Sea starts playing*
Anyone know where this is?
This is off the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean! And actually it’s not really a waterfall, it’s the underwater sediment/minerals and sand that is being swept off the continental shelf into the epipelagic waters by some pretty strong currents, creating a sort of illusion that the water itself is rushing over into a waterfall. It’s a pretty cool illusion though!
There aren’t ever such things as underwater waterfalls or rivers that are just made out of water since water is technically all the same density (besides fresh and saltwater) and the only thing that separates it would be the salinity and/or the thermocline!
But when water is actually mixed with something denser, such as hydrogen sulfide or perhaps salt water crashing with fresh water, it can actually form underwater rivers such as the one in Mexico!
It’s what keeps some people sane. It’s what drives the world’s most skilled and accomplished athletes, the most intense gamers, the hardcore hobbyists, even many of the most talented artists, musicians and actors – flow is what you get when unstoppable drive meets an unflinching will and unlimited dedication.
Flow is being utterly, truly “in the zone”. And it’s one of the most amazing feelings there is.
This is why finding a sport, or a hobby, or a martial art, or a handicraft, or a new video game, or any skill-based activity that uses focus and requires practice and repetition is so beneficial for things like depression and anxiety and overall mental/physical well-being.
This quote “flow is what you get when unstoppable drive meets an unflinching will and unlimited dedication” makes it sound like you have to be some kind of super motivated and dedicated person to achieve this mental state, but, yeah no, we’re all capable of it. And why chilling out to rock some video games or do whatever you need to for that kind of mental relaxation is NOT a waste of your time.
So remember around Christmas time last year, everyone was OBSESSED with these moon lamps? Well, they are back and this time they listened to our requests. Before they only changed to 3 different colors, but now you can make the moon whatever color you want! There’s nothing I love more than a Red Moon 😀
My parents live in this town and the city legally can’t tear the tree down to build or anything because the tree has its own legal rights and they can’t do anything about it.
how does. how does this happen. how DID this happen
I love this story because this guy in the early 1800’s had so many great childhood memories of this tree and wanted to make sure it was protected no matter what. So he deeded the ownership of the tree to itself and everyone just went with it.
Then in 1942 this intense windstorm came and knocked the tree over. And people were bummed. But someone had saved an acorn from the original tree, so they planted that and now Son of the Tree That Owns Itself is over 50 feet tall.
And since this new tree is technically the offspring of the original tree it’s considered to have legally inherited the plot of land it’s inhabiting.
Two generations of trees owning land is amazing and if you don’t think this is the coolest thing get right out of my face.
SliceOSunshine 