Evidence of world’s oldest forest unearthed in upstate New York

Scientists have unearthed evidence in New York of the world’s oldest forest, dating back nearly 400 million years. The fossilized forest, which is 386 million years old, was discovered in a quarry in the upstate town of Cairo, around 33 miles south of Albany, according to a new study. The discovery was reported in the latest issue of Current Biology and is believed to be 3 million years older than the previous world record holder, which is located around 25 miles away in Gilboa. Researchers said the recent findings provide new insight into the evolution of forests, indicating that the Earth’s transition to them began 10 million years before trees started growing from seeds. “We are really getting a handle on the transition of the Earth to a forested planet,” said study co-author Dr. Chris Berry of Cardiff University in the UK...MORE