A study published in Science shows that the tallest tropical Dipterocarp trees can transport water to their crowns without impaired hydraulic function, and that their growth rates were unchanged during a severe 2023‑2024 drought. Conventional theory held that greater height in trees would increase hydraulic resistance, limiting water transport and making tall trees more vulnerable to drought. The research examined Dipterocarp trees ranging from 7 to 71 metres tall in Malaysian Borneo, measuring water‑carrying vessels, leaf adaptations, and trunk growth before, during, and after the El Niño drought period. Findings indicated that taller trees compensated for height by widening vessels near the ground and modifying leaf traits to withstand greater water stress, resulting in no height‑related loss of growth. Professor Lucy Rowland of the University of Exeter said the hydraulic system of very tall Dipterocarp trees is perfectly evolved for its height, and should not suffer more than smaller trees exposed to the same drought conditions. Dr Paulo Bittencourt, now at Cardiff University, noted that the tallest 1% of trees store more than half of above‑ground carbon in forests and that predictions of higher drought mortality for these trees may be incorrect. The study suggests that existing climate‑change models, which include a weaker hydraulic system for tall trees, might need revision. Further research is needed to investigate the hydraulic systems and drought resilience of other tall tree species.