The Curiosity Desk

June 24, 2026 

First up, how much of the lore around the historic liberty tree is real, and how much is myth carried out over centuries? That’s the focus of new reporting from GBH’s Hannah Loss. She joins alongside Arnold Arboretum director Ned Friedman, who was called to analyze a ​preserved sample of the tree’s roots.

Then, with the Bourne & Sagamore bridges being offered up for “adoption," we learn why & how someone even would go about buying a bridge, with Tufts professor and engineer Brian Brenner.

Lastly, We welcome back librarian-by-day, Abigail Adams interpreter by night Sarah Walsh who’s back in town for an America250 event.