Israelis grow extinct date palm from 2000 year old seed
Scientists in Israel have succeeded in getting an ancient date seed to sprout and grow. The date palm is of a species that has been extinct for hundreds of years. The seed itself was found about 40 years ago during an excavation of the ancient Jewish fortress at Masada. The seeds have spent the last 2000 years preserved in the ancient fortress’ storage rooms, buried under mounds of debris.
This news is of a special importance given modern scientists’ concerns for protecting the world’s future food supplies from the threats of climate change or other doomsday scenarios. Although none of us will be around to see it, at least we know if a doomsday scenario does occur, the survivors should be able to grow our old seeds for thousands of years into the future. Some comfort.
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