A Healthy Date (Tree)...

It’s not every day that ancient plants can inspire our modern-day, disposable, get-it-quick society.

But scientists at the Natural Medicine Research Center (NMRC) in Jerusalem, have just the ticket:

“A sapling germinated earlier this year from a 2,000-year-old date palm seed is thriving, according to Israeli researchers who are cultivating the historic plant.”

The seeds were found more than 30 years ago, at the ancient site of Masada. Ironically, they were kept in a drawer, all but forgotten, for over 3 decades, before Dr Sarah Sallon, director of the NMRC, asked for a few. She planned to give them to a desert agricultural expert, to see if they could be “revived.”

This is a really fascinating story, of patience and science and a little biblical input, as well. For instance, in biblical times, dates were "were widely used for different kinds of diseases—cancers, TB [tuberculosis]—all kinds of problems."

A really interesting read. Recommended.