Bit of Fun mascot the Jester Queen

Why do animals have such different lifespans?



Anyone who has outlived a favorite pet has probably wondered why life spans are so different. The average life of a dog is 10-13 years, but for the worm C. elegans, life is just a few short weeks.


The bowhead whale, on the other hand, can live over two hundred years. Why are these lifespans so different? And what does it really mean to �age' anyway?


Joao Magalhaes explains why the pace of aging varies greatly across animals. Of course the next question for humans who understand the limitations of life, is how can I extend my life?