6 Tree Facts Every American Should Know

Trees are the longest living organisms on Earth, and never die of old age.

California has the oldest living trees. Some state bristlecone pines and gigantic sequoias are 4,000 5,000 years old. One of the oldest surviving trees is Methuselah, a 4,852-year-old Bristlecone Pine.

Tree rings can predict climate change.

Dendrochronology dates trees by their rings. A tree's rings may show natural calamities like volcanic eruptions and droughts as well as its age.

Planting trees can help reduce your energy costs.

Strategically planting trees and bushes may save energy costs by 25%. A shade tree may chill your house by 20 degrees in summer. 

Some trees have been to the moon.

Moon trees were developed from seeds delivered to the moon in early 1971 by Apollo 14. NASA and the US Forest Service sought to know whether the moon's orbit affected seed growth on Earth. 

Trees are able to communicate and defend themselves against attacking insects.

Scientists observed that trees may fill their leaves with phenolics when insects attack. They may also alert other trees to defend themselves. Webworms cause willow trees to release toxins.

Trees block noise by reducing sound waves.

They minimise noise by attenuating sound. Tree, shrub, and herbaceous leaves, twigs, and branches absorb and deflect sound waves to disguise noise.