Trees that live on after toppling and that can create new trees from branches of the original with their own roots and everything. Not to be confused with nurse logs which are dead fallen trees that provide a great environment for new trees and plants to grow in. When the original finally decays you end up with a neat straight line of trees.

Phoenix trees

How do you remember which are stalactites and stalagmites in a cave? And how to spell them?

The key to getting the whole thing the right way round in my mind is to remember that you need to cling tight (tite) to the ceiling. Once that’s established, you have a letter C in stactite that fits cling and ceiling. And stalagmites, with its cheeky G, naturally then is the other one which would grow on the ground. Sorted?

Stalactites, Stalagmites

The simple fact that the start of something, pretty much anything, means we’re more likely to try something new. Be it your birthday, your next house, a new day or a new country, these turn out to be great mental triggers for us to get started.

For more, you could do much worse than listen to Katherine Milkman, an assistant professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, on the Freaknomics podcast: When Willpower Isn’t Enough.

The fresh start effect