The Ancient Wanderers: Longest Living Organisms on Earth

Some of Nature's longest living creatures include the bowhead whale, which can live over 200 years, and clonal colonies of sea grass and coral reefs.

Ming the clam, an ocean quahog, lived for 507 years and provided insights into genetic resistance to oxidative stress, a primary cause of aging in humans and animals.

Greenland sharks can live over 500 years, thanks to their unique ability to limit cellular damage caused by exposure to free radicals.

Old Tjikko, a clonal Norway spruce, has a root system that has been in place for 9,550 years, making it one of the oldest living organisms on Earth.

Coral reefs, ancient living ecosystems, are an amalgam of fossils and living animals, some of which are tens of thousands of years old.

What is the oldest living organism on Earth?

—The oldest living organism on Earth is believed to be Old Tjikko, a clonal Norway spruce tree, with a root system that has been in place for 9,550 years.

How long can Greenland sharks live?

—Greenland sharks can live over 500 years, thanks to their unique ability to limit cellular damage caused by exposure to free radicals.

What is the primary cause of aging in humans and animals?

—The primary cause of aging in humans and animals is oxidative stress, which is caused by exposure to free radicals.

How long can a bowhead whale live?

—A bowhead whale can live over 200 years.

How old are coral reefs?

—Coral reefs have existed for millions of years, with some living colonies being tens of thousands of years old.

00:00Explore the exceptional ages of Nature's longest living creatures, from the bowhead whale to clonal colonies of sea grass and coral reefs.

04:51Ming the clam, an ocean quahog, lived for 507 years and provided insights into genetic resistance to oxidative stress, a primary cause of aging.

06:57Greenland sharks can live over 500 years, thanks to their unique ability to limit cellular damage caused by exposure to free radicals.

10:00Old Tjikko, a clonal Norway spruce, has a root system that has been in place for 9,550 years, making it one of the oldest living organisms on Earth.

11:48Coral reefs, ancient living ecosystems, are an amalgam of fossils and living animals, some of which are tens of thousands of years old.