A recently uncovered oak tree from an ancient forest on the shore of Mount’s Bay, Penzance. Photo by Frank Howie, courtesy of BBC.

Heavy storms in the UK this winter have uncovered traces of an ancient forest that was submerged by rising tides 4-6,000 years ago. Well preserved trunks and stumps of oaks, pine, and hazel are now visible along the beaches in Penzance, UK (south western England). Scientists conjecture this forest was vibrant in a time of warmer climate. Shifting sands in the coming months are likely to cover up these old tree remnants once again, so now is the best time to view them.

Your zen meditation for the day: Which of our coastal redwood forests may be swallowed up by rising oceans in the future, only to be uncovered suddenly thousands of years from now?