Listen "What’s the Oldest Living Thing?"
Episode Synopsis
Trees transcend human generations – but are they the oldest living things on Earth? CrowdScience listener William from London, UK, got in touch to ask what the oldest tree or other organism on our planet is. Presenter Marnie Chesterton heads out to meet one of our older arboreal cousins to see how we can work out its age - without cutting it down to count the rings. But whilst certain individual trees can live for thousands of years, some that live in colonies can survive for much longer – perhaps up to 80,000 years old. Along the way, Marnie asks what other organisms contend for this title, what the word ‘oldest’ really means, and even ponders whether some creatures could actually be immortal. Do you have a question we can turn into a programme? Email us at [email protected]: Marnie Chesterton
Producer: Jen Whyntie(Image: Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Credit: Getty Images)
Producer: Jen Whyntie(Image: Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Credit: Getty Images)
More episodes of the podcast CrowdScience
How do cicadas know what season it is?
09/01/2026
Did I inherit my laugh?
05/01/2026
The CrowdScience quiz of the year
26/12/2025
How do we adapt to the cold?
19/12/2025
Can you play the guitar underwater?
12/12/2025
Can we turn deserts green?
05/12/2025
How big is a rainbow?
28/11/2025
Why do we cry?
21/11/2025
Do tsunamis affect marine life?
14/11/2025
Are near-death experiences real?
07/11/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.