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       #Post#: 18923--------------------------------------------------
       Scientists accidentally kill the world's oldest animal 
       By: 12cows Date: February 3, 2015, 6:09 pm
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       Scientists accidentally kill world's oldest animal at age 507
       Rob Quinn, Newser 12 p.m. EST November 15, 2013
       The oldest animal ever known lived from 1499 until the day
       researchers cracked its shell open, killing it in the process.
       Ming, an ocean quahog from the species Arctica islandica, was
       initially thought to be a record-setting 402 years old. But the
       scientists who found it on a seabed near Iceland in 2006 now say
       further analysis has revealed that it was an incredible 507
       years old, reports CBS.
       The researchers, who didn't realize how old Ming was when they
       first found it, opened the ancient clam up to judge its age by
       counting growth rings inside its hinge ligaments. That's because
       the rings are "better protected" there, scientist Paul Butler
       tells ScienceNordic, which notes that Ming was named for the
       Chinese dynasty that ruled when it was born.
       But the rings were so close together that scientists ended up
       having to count the rings on the outside to be accurate, leading
       CBS to point out that Ming could have lived on, had scientists
       just started there.
       "We got it wrong the first time and maybe we were a bit [hasty]
       publishing our findings back then. But we are absolutely certain
       that we've got the right age now," says Butler.
       The old, dead, mollusk still has a huge amount to offer science,
       reports the Herald-Sun. Scientists believe it will provide
       valuable data on changing sea temperatures over the last
       half-millennium—and maybe even some clues to longevity.
       Newser is a USA TODAY content partner providing general news,
       commentary and coverage from around the Web. Its content is
       produced independently of USA TODAY.
       #Post#: 18936--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Scientists accidentally kill the world's oldest animal 
       By: rapids_60 Date: February 3, 2015, 7:49 pm
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       It was 507?  Holy crap, I had no idea we had living things that
       old on the planet.
       Erm..."had". :(
       #Post#: 18938--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Scientists accidentally kill the world's oldest animal 
       By: trollslayer Date: February 3, 2015, 7:56 pm
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       Probably the same scientists that have researched global
       warming.  ;D
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