/oss/taxonomy/term/3061/all en /oss/article/history-general-science/passover-stories-can-ignite-science <p> “Moses looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” That passage from Exodus is one of the most famous ones in the entire Bible! After all, it was from that burning bush on Mount Horeb that God spoke to Moses, telling him that he had been chosen to lead his people out of slavery in Egypt. </p> Thu, 18 Apr 2024 13:00:12 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9914 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/there-scientific-explanation-behind-moses-and-burning-bush <p><span>Suggestions have been made that the Dictamnus albus plant, found throughout northern Africa is a candidate for the burning bush. In the summer, the plant, also known as the “gas plant,” exudes a variety of volatile oils that can catch fire readily and may give the impression that the bush is burning. So was Moses witnessing the combustion of a mix of terpenes, flavonoids, coumarins and phenylpropanoids? An interesting hypothesis about the burning bush, but one that can be readily doused.</span></p> Wed, 28 Mar 2018 19:21:28 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 6978 at /oss