Spartan scientists unearth Beal Seed Experiment

A team of Michigan State University scientists is continuing one of the world’s longest-running plant biology experiments. They set out to unearth a bottle of seeds originally buried in 1879 beneath campus by renowned botanist William J. Beal. Now, 142 years later, the team uncovered one of the original 20 bottles filled with sand and seeds from common weed species to determine how long the seeds can remain viable in soil. Watch as the team meets on the MSU campus under the cover of darkness to find one of the bottles and bring it to a growth chamber to see whether the seeds sprout. Read more about the experiment: Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 165 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.