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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "For the microscopic lab worm, C. elegans"
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    "dDurationMs": 3909,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "life equates to just \na few short weeks on Earth."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Compare that with the tortoise,\nwhich can age to more than 100 years."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Mice and rats reach the end of their lives\nafter just four years,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "while for the bowhead whale,\nEarth's longest-lived mammal,"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "death can come after 200."
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      "utf8": "Like most living things,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "the vast majority of animals gradually\ndegenerate after reaching sexual maturity"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "in the process known as aging."
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      "utf8": "But what does it really mean to age?"
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      "utf8": "The drivers behind this process are varied\nand complicated,"
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      "utf8": "but aging is ultimately \ncaused by cell death and dysfunction."
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      "utf8": "When we're young, \nwe constantly regenerate cells"
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      "utf8": "in order to replace dead and dying ones."
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      "utf8": "But as we age, this process slows down."
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      "utf8": "In addition, older cells don't perform\ntheir functions as well as young ones."
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      "utf8": "That makes our bodies go into a decline,"
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    "dDurationMs": 3301,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "which eventually results \nin disease and death."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "But if that's consistently true,"
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      "utf8": "The answer lies in several factors,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "including environment"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and body size."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "These can place powerful evolutionary\npressures on animals to adapt,"
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    "tStartMs": 91368,
    "dDurationMs": 4790,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "which in turn makes the aging process\ndifferent across species."
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  }, {
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    "dDurationMs": 3801,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Consider the cold depths of the Atlantic\nand Arctic Seas,"
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  }, {
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    "dDurationMs": 3369,
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      "utf8": "where Greenland sharks can live\nto over 400 years,"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and the Arctic clam known as the quahog\ncan live up to 500."
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      "utf8": "Perhaps the most impressive of these\nocean-dwelling ancients"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "is the Antarctic glass sponge,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 114047,
    "dDurationMs": 4341,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "which can survive over 10,000 years\nin frigid waters."
    } ]
  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "In cold environments like these,\nheartbeats and metabolic rates slow down."
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 123828,
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Researchers theorize that this also\ncauses a slowing of the aging process."
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "In this way, the environment \nshapes longevity."
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "When it comes to size, \nit's often, but not always,"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "the case that larger species have a longer\nlifespan than smaller ones."
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "For instance, an elephant or whale\nwill live much longer"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "than a mouse, rat, or vole,"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 146498,
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "which in turn have years on flies\nand worms."
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  }, {
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      "utf8": "Some small animals, like worms and flies,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "are also limited by the mechanics \nof their cell division."
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      "utf8": "They're mostly made up of cells that can't\ndivide and be replaced when damaged,"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "so their bodies expire more quickly."
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  }, {
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      "utf8": "And size is a powerful evolutionary driver\nin animals."
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  }, {
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      "utf8": "Smaller creatures are more prone\nto predators."
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      "utf8": "A mouse, for instance, can hardly expect\nto survive more than a year in the wild."
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      "utf8": "So, it has evolved to grow and reproduce\nmore rapidly,"
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      "utf8": "like an evolutionary defense mechanism\nagainst its shorter lifespan."
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      "utf8": "Larger animals, by contrast, are better\nat fending off predators,"
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      "utf8": "and so they have the luxury of time\nto grow to large sizes"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and reproduce multiple times\nduring their lives."
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      "utf8": "Exceptions to the size rule include bats,\nbirds, moles, and turtles,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "but in each case, these animals have other\nadaptations"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "that allow them to escape predators."
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      "utf8": "But there are still cases where animals\nwith similar defining features,"
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      "utf8": "like size and habitat,"
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  }, {
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      "utf8": "In these cases, genetic differences,"
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      "utf8": "like how each organism's cells\nrespond to threats,"
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      "utf8": "often account for the discrepancies\nin longevity."
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      "utf8": "So it's the combination \nof all these factors"
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      "utf8": "playing out to differing degrees\nin different animals"
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      "utf8": "that explains the variability we see\nin the animal kingdom."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "So what about us?"
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      "utf8": "Humans currently have \nan average life expectancy of 71 years,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "meaning that we're not even close to being\nthe longest living inhabitants on Earth."
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      "utf8": "In the early 1900s, humans only lived\nan average of 50 years."
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      "utf8": "Since then, we've learned to adapt\nby managing many of the factors"
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      "utf8": "This, and other increases \nin life expectancy"
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      "utf8": "make us possibly the only species\non Earth"
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      "utf8": "to take control over our natural fate."
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