It might seem like common knowledge that manners matter, but recent studies have proved that saying thank you to colleagues isn’t just the kind thing to do—it also positively effects their motivation. A survey cited in Janice Kaplan’s new book “The Gratitude Diaries” states that 81% of people are willing to work harder for an appreciative boss, and yet only 10% of survey participants said …
1. A 390-Year-Old Bonsai Tree that Survived an Atomic Bomb Washington DC’s National Arboretum will honor its oldest artifact this week: a 390-year-old bonsai tree from Japan. But perhaps more impressive than its age is the tree’s history—which was fortuitously revealed in 2001. The miniature white pine is actually a survivor of the 9,700-pound atomic bomb that hit Hiroshima and was quietly donated to the …
1. Sam Van Aken’s Magical Tree Bears 40 Types of Fruit Sam Van Aken, an artist and professor at Syracuse University, has Frankenstein-ed together a tree that bears 40 different types of fruit, including peaches, plums, apricots and almonds. The “Tree of 40 Fruit” is the product of chip grafting—which works by splicing small branches of fruit varietals onto a main tree—and years of patience. …
