147 years ago, botanist William James Beal had a unique idea for how we could learn more about seeds.

Beal wanted to know just how long seeds of different kinds would remain viable in soil. Now, that might not sound like the most exciting research topic of all time, but understanding seed longevity actually plays a crucial role in agriculture, our food supply, and the preservation of biodiversity.

In 1879, Beal decided to bury 20 bottles filled with seeds in the ground. The bottles were open to allow soil and some moisture to reach the seeds, but positioned in such a way that they would not fill with water. That would allow just enough moisture for the seeds to theoretically survive without sprouting.

May 12, 1924: William J. Beal, a pioneering botanist whose research at the University of Michigan yielded the first 24-rowed hybrid corn, dies at 91 in Amherst, Mass. An experiment he began in 1879 to test germinating seeds is the oldest still-ongoing botany project in the U.S. pic.twitter.com/GaX64lZGpg— 100YearsAgoNews (@100YearsAgoNews) May 12, 2024

May 12, 1924: William J. Beal, a pioneering botanist whose research at the University of Michigan yielded the first 24-rowed hybrid corn, dies at 91 in........

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