Buried

Daric Coin

A stash of valuable gold coins had been hidden for thousands of years within the ancient equivalent of a neighborhood bank. Archaeologists recently discovered this buried treasure beneath the floor of a fifth-century BC home.

They believe it belonged to a mercenary soldier who fought and died “when tension was high” between Greeks and Persians.  This soldier had likely been paid with said coins, thus exchanging health for wealth, and life for death.

Chances are that he never got to benefit from his valiant efforts.  Chances are that he was never even buried as carefully as these coins.  Chances are that people the world over are still making bets that hearts broken by strife will go on beating indefinitely.

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/pot-gold-coins-uncovered-turkey-234247857.html 

Flying High with Hydrogen

(Fair Use)

Yesterday’s science fiction is fast becoming today’s fact.  Who would have thought that George Jetson’s aerocar might soon be ours?

For those still wrestling with e-mails, the thought of eVTOLs is mind-boggling.  An eVTOL is “an electric vertical takeoff and landing craft,” a recent version of which “flew over 500 miles… powered by hydrogen fuel cells and electric technology.”  Such travel can occur “with no emissions except water.”

While soaring past highway routes and traffic, you can get from place to place in record time.  Forget about airport hassles, this aerobic buggy can fly high from numerous locations.

Although the element hydrogen is widespread here on earth, isolating and storing it can be a daunting task.  Joby Aviation seems up for the challenge.  It aims to begin air-taxi “commercial operations in the U.S. in 2025.” 

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/news/tech/aircraft-developer-completes-over-500-073000340.html

Can't keep a good tree down

Breadfruit
(Photo by Hans Hillewaert)

For many, Lahaina’s famous banyan tree is a symbol of all that went awry when colonial powers dispossessed Native Hawaiians of their land, language and culture.  It was shipped from India back in 1873 to commemorate “the arrival of the first Protestant missionaries.”

Yet for others, this leafy wonder has been a nurturing force. It has provided shade and sustenance for species galore and has been a symbol of endurance for 150 years.

Now more than ever, this endurance is front and center.  After fires swept Maui in 2023, “the intense heat… dried out much of the tree,” and “about half of its branches died.” 

It was then time for good karma to come around full circle.  Folks  who had appreciated the tree’s bounty and beauty got right to work.  They lopped off the dead branches in order to help save the rest.  

As the banyan slowly makes a comeback, plans are afoot “to install vertical tubes to help the tree’s aerial roots.”  These tubes will funnel water and nutrients to newfound growth.

One good tree deserves another.  And another.  And another…  The group Treecovery is therefore working to restore the ulu (breadfruit) and other species that had thrived in Maui before colonial and commercial times.

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/news/lahainas-more-150-old-banyan-042037546.html