Friday Afternoon - Ponder

Life. (hehe)

[rj87uk]

So, I always have questions weird and wonderful.

Todays:

What is the oldest living thing alive?

I am just pondering there is no need for a major learning curve!

[briggidere]

creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) found in the Mojave Desert

nearly 12,000 years old apparently.

Good old Google.

[rj87uk]

hmmm, I had a look at that but I only found that it could live for 200 years per plant... Ponders some more...

[SilverLining]

A baobab tree...

[ska_demon]

Grandpa

It's about time he popped his head back in. I loved his posts about drumming and hippys and stuff.

Hope he's well

Ska

[briggidere]

i knew i was missing something.. I DO KNOW this one.

It's my Old Headmaster from boarding school. He's ancient.

[greenleaves]

bristlecone pines, they can live up to 5,000 years.

[rj87uk]

hehe! What about Crocs? They look old!

Where is Grampa anyway? He not well? :o

[BillyS]

God, the Sun, the universe... depends on what you consider alive.

[SuzyUK]

I thought it was "Nessie", but debatable she's still alive as she hasn't been seen in a while? :)

[edited by: SuzyUK at 4:25 pm (utc) on Oct. 13, 2006]

[SilverLining]

Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) in the Mojave Desert, Southern California.

Using radiocarbon dating and known growth rates of creosote, scientists have estimated the age of "King Clone" as 11,700 years.

I reckon plants win hands down.

[Philosopher]

That is one seriously old plant. Was alive back before the pyramids were built. :0

[lawman]

I thought it was a fungus.

<added> Found it. Here's a link [ias.ac.in] about the fungus[/url] </added>

[OptiRex]

I don't know why however I always thought it was the Great Barrier Reef off Australia!

[rj87uk]

*Turns into a Saturday night drunken ponder*

... goes back to bed ...

[ganderla]

I live in the place where this bush is found and I have to tell you that the most wonderful smell in the entire world is the smell that these bushes give off after a rainstorm.

[grandpa]

Boo!

Heck, I'm not even the oldest member of this forum. So... that leaves me out for the oldest living 'thing'.

[rj87uk]

heh!

Just out of interest...

Oldest amimal? Oldest human?

[akmac]

Welcome back grandpa!

Isn't the oldest living animal the radiated tortoise? They get close to 200 years old I think. Also, the goeduck gets pretty old.

[Old_Honky]

What about the seeds found in egyptian tombs that were subsequently cultivated? Do they count as "life".

[limbo]

Oldest living person: [news.bbc.co.uk...]

An still loving it :)

[rj87uk]

Last Updated: Wednesday, 30 July, 2003, 16:44 GMT 17:44 UK

That news is three years old! Wonder if any of the people are still, still alive!