What is the oldest living animal on Earth? The answer will shock you!

Nature doesn’t just create beauty, it crafts survival miracles. While most animals have short lives, a rare few have mastered the art of staying alive for centuries, even millennia. These aren’t just long-lived creatures; they’re nature’s ultimate time travelers. From the frozen depths of the oceans to the darkest corners underground, they’ve developed bizarre, brilliant strategies to cheat death. Get ready to meet 12 animals whose lifespans will absolutely blow your mind.

Record age: up to 15,000 years

This unassuming sea sponge thrives in the freezing waters of Antarctica, where temperatures hover around 28.6 °F—so cold that biological processes hit the brakes. In such icy conditions, metabolism slows to a crawl, allowing these sponges to live for thousands of years.

Some have reached impressive sizes of over 3 feet tall and have been around since mammoths were still thundering across the tundra. They don’t move, they don’t stress, and they barely change, just quietly existing while centuries pass them by. Their secret to extreme longevity? Glacial patience, deep-sea stillness, and a lifestyle that redefines "low-maintenance".

Age: technically… infinite

This tiny jellyfish, no bigger than a fingernail—less than 0.2 inches—is like the ocean’s very own Benjamin Button. What makes it truly extraordinary is its ability to rewind its life story, flipping back to a youthful, juvenile stage whenever it wants. While it’s not completely invincible (predators and other threats are still very real), if left undisturbed, it can keep hitting the reset button on aging indefinitely, making it one of the most fascinating "time-benders" in nature.

Record age: 507 years

In 2006, a special clam was discovered buried deep in the seabeds of the North Atlantic. Scientists were able to determine that it had been there since at least 1499—that’s centuries before the United States was even a thought! This ancient marvel, nicknamed "Ming", was able to perfect a slow-and-steady approach to life. Growing at a snail’s pace and barely budging, Ming’s sedentary lifestyle turned out to be a brilliant strategy for beating the clock. Who knew doing almost nothing could be the ultimate secret to longevity?

Record age: estimated 392 years

These sharks aren’t your average ocean cruisers—they can stretch over 20 feet long and weigh up to 2,200 pounds. But what’s really mindblowing is how slowly they move, like they’re in a permanent state of deep relaxation. Living in the icy Arctic waters, these giants don’t hit adulthood until they’re about 150 years old, and some can glide through the depths for nearly 400 years. Imagine that! These ancient swimmers were already around before America declared independence... and they are still out there, silently roaming the seas!

Record age: over 211 years

This whale is a true ocean giant, stretching up to 60 feet long and weighing a staggering 200,000 pounds. But what makes it stand out isn’t just its size but its age. Some of these majestic creatures carry harpoons from the 1800s still lodged in their skin, like walking history books. Just picture living so long that you’re literally carrying outdated technology embedded in your body—talk about being a time traveler of the seas!

Record age: 200 years

Spanning the chilly Pacific coastline from California all the way up to Alaska, this spiky little ball—about 7 inches across—is full of surprises. It munches on algae and calls the deep, dark ocean its home, thriving at depths of up to 300 feet. Don’t let its size fool you: this prickly creature is a true elder of the cold seas, quietly outliving many ocean neighbors while keeping a low profile. A tough, slow-living veteran wrapped in spikes!

Record age: 226 years

Meet Hanako, a legendary Japanese koi who swam through life for an astonishing 226 years. Scientists discovered how old she was by studying the rings on her scales, much like counting the growth rings of a tree. These colorful, ornamental fish aren’t just symbols of good fortune; they’re also secret long-lifers with the potential to celebrate over two centuries of birthdays, as long as they get the right care and a peaceful pond to call home.

Record age: 190 years

Jonathan is a male tortoise living on the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. He was born back in 1832, and he’s still happily chomping lettuce and soaking up the sun today. Weighing in at more than 400 pounds and measuring around 3 feet long, Jonathan holds the title of the oldest known living land animal on the planet. If he could share tales, they’d span nearly two centuries of history. Imagine that!

Record age: 152 years

This ancient-looking fish, with its whisker-like barbels, looking like a tiny underwater submarine, prowls the lakes of North America. It can reach an impressive length of up to 7 feet and weigh around 200 pounds. These slow-living creatures don’t rush into adulthood—they start breeding only around age 20—and then take their time cruising through life at a leisurely pace. Believe it or not, one legendary catch in Wisconsin was estimated to be over 150 years old!

Record age: over 90 years

This chunky, night-loving parrot from New Zealand is a true oddball—it can’t fly, snores like a grumpy grandpa, and smells like fresh flowers. Despite its quirks, this bird boasts an impressively long lifespan. Sadly, it teeters on the edge of extinction. The oldest known kakapo, affectionately named Richard Henry, lived 90 years, earning him the title of the charmingly eccentric elder statesman of the avian world.

Record age: 37 years

This tiny, kooky rodent—barely 3 inches long and just over an ounce in weight—could’ve been cast straight from a sci-fi apocalypse flick. Dwelling in vast underground colonies across Africa, it’s practically invincible to cancer, pain, and the usual effects of aging. Scientists are fascinated by this little marvel, even if it’s not winning beauty contests anytime soon. Its superpowers make it a star in longevity research!

Record age: estimated 100+ years

Lobsters have a totally different rulebook than us when it comes to aging. They don’t really grow old; they just keep getting bigger and bigger. Some giant lobsters weigh over 40 pounds and stretch beyond 3 feet long. Their biggest threats? Not old age, but predators or the risky process of shedding their shells. In theory, they could live forever if left alone—but let’s be honest, not many get to enjoy a peaceful, lobster-sized retirement!

GIVE ME TWENTY, SOLDIER!

Attention! Do You Know the Military Origins of These Ten Words & Phrases?

Image: Filip Andrejevic

A country’s military tends to be a source of great pride. The brave men and women who serve in the different branches of the military are usually greeted by civilians with great respect and enthusiasm. After all, they don’t only help keep their countries safe, but they also keep alive a tradition that, in some cases, dates back several hundreds of years.

The influence of the military is so exceptional that it even has an effect on the way we talk. From items of clothing to ways of celebrating a good grade on a test, here are ten of our favorite terms derived from the military world.

Image: Antony

We’ll start with what’s probably the most surprising item on this list. We won’t blame you if you weren’t aware of the rich history of the bikini, but you might be surprised to learn how refreshingly interesting the clothes that millions of women wear for a fun day on the beach are. For starters, did you know that a French automotive engineer invented the bikini, or that it was named after a decisive military test?

In the 1940s, engineer Louis Reard took over his mother’s lingerie business and designed a two-piece swimsuit that exposed the midriff for a better tan. Reard named his design the Atome, and advertised it as "the world’s smallest swimsuit." Later on, the designer chose to rename it "the bikini", to grab some attention from the first atomic bomb test on Bikini Atoll, conducted in 1946.

Image: Megan Menegay

Fighting or working to the bitter end sounds like experiencing a difficult situation until the worst outcome (or the most bitter) occurs. This is definitively not what this idiom means: it describes having the endurance to take on a difficult experience, with the determination to see it through.

While the origins of this idiom are not entirely clear, the most accepted explanation comes from the nautical world. Its first recorded use comes from a 1627 publication called "Seaman’s Grammar", written by fabled explorer and military officer Captain John Smith. In it, Smith described the way rope is wrapped around "the bit", which is basically a post. The captain then defines "the bitter end" as the point at which there is no more rope left to be used.

Image: Raimond Klavins

We mentioned this idiom in our previous article on slang words, but it was too good to pass. While you probably don’t ask for a "cup of joe" from your local barista, they would know that it means a cup of coffee. What they might not know is that this popular idiom allegedly comes from disgruntled Army sailors.

According to this theory, the origins of the phrase "a cup of joe" references Josephus Daniels, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy during World War 1. Daniels enacted a ban on alcohol consumption on all Navy ships, which obviously infuriated many sailors at the time. Since a cup of black coffee was the strongest drink they had access to, sailors started using the sarcastic expression "a cup of Joe".

Image: Andreea Swank

You might be taken aback by a particularly shocking headline in a newspaper, an unpleasant comment heard on the sidewalk, or even the impossibly friendly demeanor of a new coworker. In any case, what’s defining about this phrase is the disconcerting surprise with which you are suddenly hit. This seems only fitting since this phrase has its origins in how suddenly a gust of wind would hit a ship at the sea.

The word "aback", which has now fallen into disuse, means to go backward. If an unexpected and particularly strong wind suddenly blew into the sails of a ship, they would be blown flat against the mast, which would make the ship be "taken aback", and suddenly stop.

Image: Gigi

Let’s step back in time, and try to picture a time in your childhood when you passed a test with flying colors. Did you also picture something resembling Superman’s cape whenever you heard this phrase? Maybe it was just us but, in any case, this idiom is one heavily associated with the joyous feeling of doing something exceptionally well.

While it might not be directly related to a superhero, this phrase does come from a colored piece of cloth fluttering in the air. In the ancient days of sailing, ships would return to port either showing or hiding their flags (known as "colors"). Raising a flag would communicate victory or success; therefore, colors "flying" in the wind would be considered very good news.

Image: Randy Laybourne

Need something onto which to blame that toast that fell jelly-side down, that car splashing you on a rainy day, or that bus that shows up at the exact same second you light a cigarette? Well, you might find solace in blaming Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Having said that, you might be wondering who the eponymous Murphy was, and why his name is associated with this now-infamous maxim.

The origins of this phrase are still disputed, but we do know that the law itself was coined by American army engineer Edward A. Murphy Jr., who was involved in high-speed rocket sled experiments during the 1940s. Murphy wrote his law after a series of mishaps with his experiments and was later popularized by a press conference of the department’s head.

Image: Berry Hafkin

An old trope in 80s buddy cop movies is one of those iconic scenes in which the police chief suspends the two protagonists and makes them submit their badges and guns. After being called a couple of "loose cannons" by their superior officers, these two cops decide to step up their game and work together to solve this crime. You might be tricked into thinking that they were called "loose cannons" over something related to their guns, but this idiom actually comes from old sea warfare.

From the 17th to the 19th century, cannons were the main weapon used by warships at sea, which were mounted on wheels and secured with rope. An unbarred (or loose) cannon moved by the sea would obviously be a danger for sailors.

Image: Ben White

Let’s say that the wonderful chit-chat you and your favorite coworker have by the water cooler happened on a Navy ship. First things first: Congratulations, you are now a sailor! But, most importantly, you might be delighted to learn that this exchanged gossip now has a wonderfully strange name: scuttlebutt.

This word is a slang term for gossip, usually spread by sailors aboard a ship. The name comes from the water fountain from which sailors drank, on which most rumors were exchanged. Originally, sailships would provide water from casks (also known as butts), on which a hole would be "scuttled" for drinking.

Image: Kirill Suntsov

Another clothing item with origins in the military world, a pea coat is a type of coat generally made from wool. While short, pea coats usually have large lapels and double-breasted fronts and are a great option for cold winter days.

This protection against the cold was the main reason why they were issued to sailors in the American navy, as well as by the navies of some European countries. American sailors referred to these coats as "p-coats", a shortening for "pilot coat."

Image: Aleksandra Sapozhnikova

Sadness is a part of being human. We have all felt blue at one point or another, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. Nonetheless, have you ever wondered why the color blue is associated with sadness? And while we can’t offer you a definitive answer, most people agree that this idiom comes from sailing ships.

This theory states that in the 1700s, whenever a ship lost its captain or an officer while at sea, the crew would fly a blue flag when returning to port. Therefore, the sadness of losing a crewmate would be intrinsically connected with this blue flag waving in the wind.