Many animals are known for their longevity. Sea turtles can live up to 50 years or more, while the Greenland shark may live for more than 400 years. And while some animals get the privilege of hanging around the planet for long, others aren't so lucky. Species such as the pygmy goby, an Australian fish, only live for eight weeks. Adult mayflies average a fleeting 24 hours.
But overall, it can be challenging to calculate the average lifetime of different species. And the lifespan of many is still unknown, as scientists rely on a sample of wild animals they’ve captured and studied. Now, scientists are looking for new methods to estimate lifespan — and reading DNA is an approach that has gained traction in recent years.
