Extreme Longevity
Discovering Earth's Oldest Organisms
Meet the science experts who study specimens of extreme longevity in both the plant and animal kingdoms, such as the 80,000-year-old root system of Pando (a colony of male quaking aspens), 11,000-year-old deep-sea sponges, and 400-year-old sharks. Learn about technologies used to determine age and longevity, including DNA sampling, growth rings, and radiocarbon dating. See how scientists located these long-lived species were and why and how they resist disease and aging. And delve into how scientists are using what they know about aged plants and animals to research how we can promote longevity in humans.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
|
978-1-5124-8372-7
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$27.99 | |
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978-1-5415-3820-7
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$41.99 |
| Interest Level | Grade 6 - Grade 12 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 8 |
| Genre | Science, Young Adult |
| Category | 5 Kinds of Nonfiction, 5KN: Traditional Nonfiction |
| Copyright | 2019 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Twenty-First Century Books ™ |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 104 |
| Publication Date | 2018-08-01 |
| Text Type | Informational/Explanatory |
|---|---|
| BISACS | YAN050010, YAN050030, YAN051050 |
| Dewey | 571.8/79 |
| Graphics | Full-color illustrations |
| Dimensions | 6 x 9 |
| Lexile | 1100 |
| ATOS Reading Level | 7.8 |
| Accelerated Reader® Quiz | 501769 |
| Accelerated Reader® Points | 3.0 |
| Features | Author/Illustrator biography, Bibliography/further reading, Charts/Graphs/Diagrams, Glossary, Index, Primary source quotations/images, Reviewed, and Source notes |
Author: Karen Latchana Kenney
Karen Latchana Kenney is an Indian-Irish author and editor, born near the equator in Guyana, and raised far north in Minnesota. She writes both fiction and nonfiction stories about scientific wonders and discoveries, immigrant and biracial experiences, momentous historical events, and civil rights struggles. Her books have received several starred reviews and have been named a 2025 Minnesota Book Awards Finalist, a 2025 Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Awards Finalist, a 2023 Mathical Book Prize Honor book, and a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. She lives in Minnesota with her designer-musician husband and mathematician–robot-building son, where they explore all the wild places they can find. Find her online at https://www.karenlatchanakenney.com.
Reviews
School Library Journal
“A fascinating study of some of the longest-living organisms on the planet. . . . An excellent addition to middle school and high school library collections.”—School Library Journal
Booklist
“Readers will enjoy learning about these amazing organisms.”—Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
“An intriguing look at some of world’s oldest organisms and the scientists who study them.”—Kirkus Reviews