Skip to main content

Why do animals have such different lifespans? - Joao Pedro de Magalhaes

5,537,642 Views

8,153 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

For the microscopic lab worm C. elegans, life equates to just a few short weeks on Earth. 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 Pedro de Magalhaes explains why the pace of aging varies greatly across animals.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Joao Pedro de Magalhaes
  • Director Sharon Colman Graham
  • Script Editor Emma Bryce
  • Composer Peter Gosling
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

More from Awesome Nature