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The world’s largest organism - Alex Rosenthal

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The largest animal in the world is the blue whale, which weighs a massive 150 metric tons. Even so, it’s not remotely close to being the largest organism by weight. That title goes to an organism so huge that it’s estimated to weigh the equivalent of 40 blue whales. So what is this behemoth? And… where is it? Alex Rosenthal shares the story of the enormous and ancient Pando.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alex Rosenthal
  • Director Lisa LaBracio
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Music André Aires
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma
  • See more
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Before we can learn more about Pando it is important to understand and know more about Pando’s tree family. Aspens are a strong and long living tree that can be found throughout Canada and the United States. Learn more about this resilient tree by looking here. During Pando’s long life it has had to face lots of threats. It survived fires, earthquakes, changes to the environment and even dodged the last ice age. The one threat that Pando can’t seem to avoid is us. Human existence has threatened Pando’s continued survival and as our population continues to grow we, directly or indirectly, become more of a threat to Pando’s future. Sadly scientists feel that Pando is slowly dying, but there are those working to save it. Seeing what we are doing to Pando should make us all examine what damage we might be causing to the environment that we interact with. Take a virtual visit to Pando and see how beautiful it is.
Avatar for Sazia Afrin
Lesson Creator
New York, New York, United States
Based on what you have learned about Pando do you think saving it should be a top priority by scientists and environmentalists alike?

08/11/2020
Avatar for Tyreque Beauchamp
Tyreque Beauchamp • LESSON IN PROGRESS

yes because we need trees to serve they made oxygen

01/04/2021
Avatar for Fenway Mundy
Fenway Mundy • COMPLETED LESSON

not rely because it is only 106 acres of trees

01/04/2021
Avatar for Landen Wardlaw
Landen Wardlaw • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Yes we need trees to breathe

01/04/2021
Avatar for marvin alvarez
marvin alvarez • LESSON IN PROGRESS

no what do we care its in Utah not here also we don't need to see stuff like that we have phones and pcs

01/04/2021
Avatar for Harrison Keaser
Harrison Keaser • COMPLETED LESSON

I believe that we should work to save Pando trees because of how beneficial they could be to us in the future.

01/04/2021
Avatar for Janiya Brown
Janiya Brown • COMPLETED LESSON

It’s known as Pando and it is believed to be the largest living organism on Earth. But scientists say that overgrazing by deer and elk is now threatening Pando's survival

01/04/2021
Avatar for minseo kim
minseo kim • LESSON IN PROGRESS

I think saving it should be a top priority by scientists and environmentalists alike because it can be a perfect sample for scientific research since all the trunks have the same genes they can use those to have more conviction about the research that they have done when all the trunks show a same reaction.

01/25/2021

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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 Alex Rosenthal
  • Director Lisa LaBracio
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Music André Aires
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma
  • See more