The World's Oldest Living Organisms | Rachel Sussman

TL;DR

This talk explores the work of Rachel Sussman, a photographer who has spent five years researching and photographing the oldest living organisms in the world, ranging from trees to bacteria.

Transcript

good evening I'm Alexander Rose the director of the long now foundation as many of you know we start these out with a thing called the long short a short film that exemplifies long-term thinking um tonight's long short is by Tom Lowe who I think we've shown some of his work before he has a website called time escapes org where he's taking some of t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🐢 Long-lived organisms tend to have slow and steady growth, endure extreme conditions, and adapt to limited nutrients.
• 👻 Clonal organisms, such as well-wichiyas and creosote bushes, are capable of reproducing vegetatively, allowing them to survive for thousands of years.
• 🛟 The importance of preserving and protecting these organisms is highlighted by their vulnerability to climate change, habitat destruction, and other threats.

Questions & Answers

Q: How are the ages of these organisms determined?

The ages of these organisms are determined through a combination of methods, including radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology, and observing growth rates over time.

Q: What is the significance of these organisms for our understanding of longevity?

These organisms offer insights into the strategies and adaptations that enable living things to survive for such long periods of time. They also raise questions about the potential benefits of studying their genes for human genetic engineering.

Q: Are there any older organisms that Rachel couldn't reach?

Rachel has been able to photograph all of the organisms she set out to find, although there were some obstacles and challenges along the way. She encourages further research and exploration of the seas and other environments that may reveal even older organisms.

Q: In what ways are these organisms threatened?

Many of these organisms face threats including climate change, habitat destruction, invasive species, and disease. Efforts to protect and preserve these organisms are vital to ensure their continued longevity.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Rachel Sussman has traveled the world to photograph and study continuously living organisms that are 2,000 years old and older.

• She has discovered a range of species, including brain coral, bristlecone pines, baobab trees, and clonal organisms such as well-wichiyas.

• Many of these organisms face threats such as climate change and invasive species, highlighting the importance of their preservation.