A large international research project, with contributions from Czech experts, has investigated the evolutionary origins of trees and their dominance on Earth. The study suggests trees’ ability to adapt to drought conditions was crucial to their development as some of the planet’s largest and longest-living organisms. Researchers sought to understand how trees emerged and achieved their significant size and longevity. The findings indicate that superior drought resilience provided a key evolutionary advantage. This adaptation allowed trees to thrive while other plant life struggled during periods of water scarcity. The research provides new insights into the factors driving plant evolution and the ecological success of trees. Further details of the study’s methodology and specific findings have not yet been released.