Greenland Sharks Live 500 Years

Deep in the frigid, dark waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans swims a creature that can be a living relic of history. These are the Greenland sharks, whose immense lifespan is a testament to a life lived in the extreme slow lane. Their slow-moving, almost ghostly presence in the deep sea allows them to conserve energy in an environment where resources are scarce. This incredibly slow pace of life extends to their growth, with some studies suggesting they grow less than a centimeter per year.

The secret to unlocking their remarkable age lies within their eyes. Scientists discovered that the proteins in the center of the shark's eye lens are formed before birth and do not change over their lifetime. By using radiocarbon dating on these inert proteins, researchers can accurately determine an individual's age. This method revealed that these sharks don't even reach sexual maturity until they are about 150 years old. Their slow metabolism, driven by the icy cold of their habitat, is the key to this extraordinary longevity, making them true ancients of the deep.