"Unveiling the Ancient Roots: Discovery of the World's Oldest Forest"

Scientists have discovered the world's oldest known forest in Cairo, upstate New York, dating back approximately 386 million years. The forest, which extends over 400 kilometers, was mapped by a team from Binghamton University, New York State Museum, and Cardiff University. It features early plant species such as cladoxylopsids and Achaeopteris trees, as well as an unidentified tree type, all of which reproduced via spores. This discovery provides significant insights into the early ecology of forests and their role in carbon dioxide absorption, marking a pivotal point in Earth's transition to a forested planet.