Daniel Barkowitz | September 06, 2006
"Isaac Newton's Apple Tree Bears Fruit"
Outside of the SFS building on the MIT campus sits a little garden which, rumor has it, is ex-President Paul Gray's favorite place to relax on campus. Secluded from passersby, it is home to many beautiful trees, and occasionally an exotic bird or two (or what passes for an exotic bird in these parts).
Well, today one of my fellow staff members at MIT pointed out an unusual occurrence.
In this garden sits a reportedly direct descendant of the tree under which Isaac Newton made his discovery of the principle of gravity.
The tree sits in the garden complete with a plaque stating its history (an article about the tree can be found here).
I suppose that isn't so unusual, given that we are the campus with the Wright Brothers wind tunnel and the Guggenheim Laboratory.
What is unusual is that in my colleague's memory of her time at MIT (and she has been at MIT many years), she has never seen the tree flower or bear fruit.
Well, this year, in honor (perhaps) of the start of classes on campus (which occurred today), she discovered an apple sitting on one of the branches.
If you find me sitting there in the next several weeks, patiently resting under the tree, waiting for the apple to fall, you'll know I am just looking for some inspiration!
Happy start of term, all!
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That's so funny! Is that a granny smith? What was the apple that reportedly fell on Newton?
Posted by: Aaron Thom on September 8, 2006 06:19 PM
HI
Eating that apple would be inspirational!!
What Happened to 'What I did during my lunchhour Part 2,3,etc.." ?
By the way how exactly was it determined that this tree was a descendant of the tree under which Isaac Newton made his discovery of the principle of gravity?
Ankit Chandra
Gaborone, Botswana
Posted by: Ankit Chandra on September 8, 2006 10:04 PM
