Meet the science experts who study specimens of extreme longevity in both the plant and animal kingdoms, learn about technologies used to determine age and longevity, see how scientists located these long-lived species, and delve into how scientists are using what they know about aged plants and animals to research how we can promote longevity in humans.

Table of Contents

• Special Thanks
• Introduction: The Whale That Got Away
• Chapter 1: Bowhead Whales: Slow, Cold, and Very Old
• Chapter 2: Greenland Sharks: Arctic Ancients
• Chapter 3: A Hydra and a Jellyfish: Near Immortals
• Chapter 4: Glass Sponge Reefs and Stromatolites: Back from the Dead
• Chapter 5: Tuatara: Reptile Relics
• Chapter 6: Pando and King Clone: Persistent Plants
• Chapter 7: Inside DNA: Searching for Longevity Genes
• Comparative Timeline
• Source Notes
• Glossary
• Selected Bibliography
• Further Information
• About the Author
• Photo Acknowledgments