Scientist’s 1879 seed burial yields insights today
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In 1879, botanist William James Beal buried 20 bottles filled with seeds in Michigan, United States, to study how long they would remain viable.
Beal wanted to understand seed longevity and its importance for agriculture and biodiversity. He initially planned to excavate a bottle every five years, but the schedule later extended to every ten, and then every twenty years. The experiment continued after Beal retired in 1910, with successive teams of scientists at Michigan State University maintaining the project.
In April 2021, the team dug up a bottle delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, carefully retrieving the seeds under cover of darkness. They planted the seeds and found that 20 sprouted, all belonging to the mullein family, including a previously unknown hybrid. Scientists also study seeds that do not sprout, attempting to revive them with techniques like cold exposure and smoke simulation. They analyze these seeds to determine what characteristics contribute to long-term survival.
The ongoing Beal Seed Experiment, scheduled to conclude around 2100, could inform efforts to create climate-resilient crops and preserve global food supplies.
