Resurrected Beauty: Extinct Texas Oak Tree Rediscovered in Big Bend National Park, Sparking Hope for Biodiversity

A species of oak tree unique to Texas' western mountain ranges, which was thought to be extinct, has been rediscovered in the Big Bend National Park. The Quercus tardifolia, also known as the late-leaf oak, is a living relic of a bygone climatic period in Texas' history when the state was wetter and cooler. The tardifolia keeps its leaves all winter and regrows them very late into spring. Michael Eason, a scientist with the San Antonio Botanical Garden's Rare Plants and Conservation program, conducted a search for the tree with a team of botanists in Big Bend National Park's Chisos Mountains. The tardifolia can only thrive in north-facing canyons with plenty of shade and moisture, making the search challenging. Eason and his team were able to locate two of these supposedly extinct oaks, take off some branches, and graft them onto oak rootstock back at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Eason now has quite a few oaks in his greenhouse and is shipping seedlings to botanic gardens across the country to preserve the species. The discovery of the tardifolia oak in the Big Bend National Park is a testament to the importance of national parks and protected areas for conserving biodiversity. The discovery has highlighted the need for continued conservation efforts and research to preserve endangered species.

The Man Who Once Rolled Beedis in Kerala Is Now a Judge in the US!

The beginning of the year heralded a new dawn in the life of Keralite Surendran K Pattel as he was sworn in as the judge of the 240th Judicial District Court in Texas' Fort Bend county. In the US, district judges are elected through elections, and Pattel, 51, won the first round of voting by defeating the incumbent judge. Life was tough for young Pattel, the son of daily wage earners. He had to work as a laborer in a beedi rolling unit to make ends meet and complete his studies. It was an uphill task to complete his graduation, but his unwavering commitment saw him through the tough times. After his graduation, he enrolled for LLB at a college in Kozhikode. Pattel worked in a hotel while he was pursuing LLB and after completing it he straightaway began practicing law. In a turn of events, he married Shubha, a nurse, and shifted to Delhi where he worked in the Supreme Court. In 2007, Shubha got an opportunity to work in the US. Pattel also moved base to the US and after working for some time in a supermarket, he boldly resumed his studies and appeared as well as cleared the Texas bar exam.  Following his admission to the University of Houston Law Center's LL.M. program, which he completed with distinction, he resumed his legal career. With his passion for law, he overcame all hurdles in life to become a judge in the US.