Good morning! 🌞 

Did you know that some cats are allergic to humans?! 

While it’s rare, certain cats can have allergic reactions to human dander, just as some people are allergic to cats.

Environment

Scientists Grow 1,000-Year-Old Seed

Forty years ago, an archaeological dig north of Jerusalem uncovered a well-preserved ancient seed, estimated to be over 1,000 years old. Recently planted, it has now grown into a mature tree, possibly a long-extinct species once used for medicinal purposes, and even mentioned in the Bible.

Initially, Israeli botanists, including Dr. Sarah Sallon of the Hadassah University Medical Center, couldn’t identify the seed’s species. Following a technique used to germinate ancient date palm pits, Dr. Sallon treated the seed with hormones, liquid fertilizer, and water, then planted it. Five weeks later, despite a millennium of environmental exposure, it sprouted. Now standing 10 feet tall, the tree has garnered global interest. Based on genetic analysis and expert consultation, Dr. Sallon’s team believes the tree might belong to the Commiphora genus, related to the myrrh tree. However, chemical tests showed no traces of the fragrant compounds found in Judean Balsam, a historic medicinal plant they initially suspected. Instead, the leaves contain guggulterols, a group of phytochemicals also found in Commiphora wightii, known for its potential cancer-fighting properties.

Ancient texts, including the Bible, refer to a medicinal balm called ‘tsori.’ Dr. Sallon’s team believes this is what they may have rediscovered, although confirmation will only come once the tree produces flowers or fruit. Dr. Louise Colville from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, praised the achievement of reviving a seed this old, highlighting its significance for the potential of long-term seed preservation. “Seeing the potential for such extreme longevity gives us hope for seed banking and storage,” she commented.

Earth Sciences

Strange Rock Found on Mars

While exploring Mars the Perseverance rover spotted a striking rock with black and white striations, similar to Alpine granite. NASA scientists are intrigued, as this could signal a region with new insights about the planet.

The rock, named Freya Castle, stands out in Jezero Crater, a site mostly composed of bedrock and sedimentary layers. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory used the rover’s Mastcam-Z to take a closer look, suspecting it to be a metamorphic rock. If confirmed, it could offer valuable details about Mars' volcanic history, suggesting the rock may have fallen into the crater from higher elevations. Scientists, including Klidaras, are now watching for more deposits of this type, which could help determine if the rocks were uplifted by the Jezero impact or transported by ancient volcanic activity.

Culture

$10 Opera Tickets

In 1932, a ticket to the San Francisco Opera cost $10. Recently, the company revived this price for prime seats to attract new audiences.
Adjusted for inflation, that ticket would now cost over $220. Yet, two years ago, to mark SF Opera’s 100th anniversary and celebrate the War Memorial Opera House, the company offered select prime tickets at $10. The program's success led to its extension for a second season.

“Opera for the Bay” tickets, funded by the Dolby family, will go on sale to provide subsidized seats for first-time attendees or those who haven’t visited in three years. For $10, attendees can secure prime seats for classics like Carmen and La Bohème. San Francisco residents with zip codes between 94000–95999, who haven’t purchased a ticket to the SF Opera main stage in the last three years, can create an SF Opera account to access the $10 tickets.
Limited to two per person, tickets will be available online only one month before opening night and are expected to sell quickly. You can check the schedule and ticket sales in their official website! 

Mind Stretchers

❓️ 

What did the ocean say to the ship's captain?

Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

How high would you have to count before you would use the letter A in the English language spelling of a whole number?

one thousand! — Jared Garretson got the corect number first! 🌞 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected]

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.