Say what you will about the internet, but it’s become an essential part of our lives.

It helps us stay connected with friends and family like never before, and it holds more knowledge than ten thousand libraries combined. Plus, all that information is just a few clicks away.

Gone are the days of flipping through dozens of books or hunting down an expert to answer a tricky question. Today, the internet has the answers to pretty much anything you can think of.

If you regularly read our site, you’ve probably seen articles explaining various oddities around us. For example, we’ve covered what it means if you see a giant star on the side of a barn, why a man might have one painted fingernail, or why square waves sometimes form on the ocean’s surface near the shore.

We’ve tackled all these questions and more. So when we found a mysterious picture online showing trees with their trunks painted white, we decided to investigate.

There’s a lot going on in the world of trees. Last month, we explained why you might see bent trees in the forest. We’ve also discussed how different paint colors on tree bark can indicate the tree’s health or future. For instance, an orange dot means the tree is marked for cutting, while purple paint can signify that the tree is on private property.

But what about trees painted white?

Honestly, we had no idea before we did some research (thanks, internet). It turns out that trees are painted white in winter to protect them from getting sunburned!

Yes, you heard that right. It’s not just fair-skinned people who need to worry about the sun. Trees do too.

Since most trees are outside, they’re exposed to temperature changes. The sun can heat up a tree’s bark during the day, causing it to expand. When the temperature drops at night, the bark can cool down and shrink quickly. These rapid changes can split the bark and damage the tree’s trunk.

That’s where the white paint comes in. A layer of white paint helps reflect the sun’s rays, preventing the trunk from getting too hot during the day.

Who knew? Not us! Had you heard of this process before? Let us know in the comments.