Comments on: The oldest thing in the world http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 06:47:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: TO http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1345816 TO Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1345816 "Being killed" sounds deliberate. Every Snidely Whiplash wannabe like myself, tweaking his mustache, driving his SUV and not voting the way this author approves are left to revel in our ignorance. MUHAHAHAHAH. “Being killed” sounds deliberate. Every Snidely Whiplash wannabe like myself, tweaking his mustache, driving his SUV and not voting the way this author approves are left to revel in our ignorance. MUHAHAHAHAH.

]]> By: ppdd http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1344060 ppdd Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1344060 "As the water warms, the organisms move slowly to higher altitudes. The Mediterranean is locked to the north by the European continent." Say what?  Is this the warmest it's been in 100,000 years?  Or has it only recently back itself into a corner? “As the water warms, the organisms move slowly to higher altitudes. The Mediterranean is locked to the north by the European continent.”

Say what?  Is this the warmest it’s been in 100,000 years?  Or has it only recently back itself into a corner?

]]> By: Andrew Epps http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343938 Andrew Epps Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343938 If it's 100'000 years old, will it not have lived through a whole series of climatic changes of greater magnitude than the one we are currently undergoing? If it’s 100’000 years old, will it not have lived through a whole series of climatic changes of greater magnitude than the one we are currently undergoing?

]]> By: willsy http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343872 willsy Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343872 With 15 years of no warming, I'll just take no. 1. You didn't need the other two - they just made you sound stupid. With 15 years of no warming, I’ll just take no. 1. You didn’t need the other two – they just made you sound stupid.

]]> By: Sally Strange http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343844 Sally Strange Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343844 Seriously dudes, it's been over 100 years since we figured out that CO2 is a greenhouse gas. Do you dispute that? Do you dispute that we've taken CO2 out of the earth where it's been sequestered for over 200 million years and put it back in the atmosphere? The alleged alternatives to the climate change hypothesis have been: 1. It's not happening.  2. It's happening but not because of humans' CO2, but other stuff--sunspots. Volcanoes. Something. 3. It is happening and it is because of humans but whatever dude, it'll all be alright because technology. Or magic. Or God's will. Something. Get your heads out of the ground, dumbasses. There's no evidence for 1, 2, or 3. Do you have a different alternative hypothesis that you think the evil scientists are hiding from the world? Let's hear it. Seriously dudes, it’s been over 100 years since we figured out that CO2 is a greenhouse gas. Do you dispute that? Do you dispute that we’ve taken CO2 out of the earth where it’s been sequestered for over 200 million years and put it back in the atmosphere? The alleged alternatives to the climate change hypothesis have been:

1. It’s not happening. 
2. It’s happening but not because of humans’ CO2, but other stuff–sunspots. Volcanoes. Something.
3. It is happening and it is because of humans but whatever dude, it’ll all be alright because technology. Or magic. Or God’s will. Something.

Get your heads out of the ground, dumbasses. There’s no evidence for 1, 2, or 3. Do you have a different alternative hypothesis that you think the evil scientists are hiding from the world? Let’s hear it.

]]> By: David Walker http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343679 David Walker Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343679 "I say keep out of it, and let nature take its course." Unless you've got a Golden Ticket to Newt's new Moonbase Alpha you're probably unable to keep out of it. You're stuck in it like the rest of us, part of the biosphere, interfering with the course of nature on a daily basis. Would "...being killed by climate change..." in the context of millions humans dying in your region from starvation as crops fail globally sound as appealingly natural? “I say keep out of it, and let nature take its course.”

Unless you’ve got a Golden Ticket to Newt’s new Moonbase Alpha you’re probably unable to keep out of it. You’re stuck in it like the rest of us, part of the biosphere, interfering with the course of nature on a daily basis.

Would “…being killed by climate change…” in the context of millions humans dying in your region from starvation as crops fail globally sound as appealingly natural?

]]> By: Margaret Louise Clarke http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343621 Margaret Louise Clarke Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343621  Have you looked at news about the Arctic Ocean?  And nearer home for me, we've been watching the Athabasca Glacier shrink most of my life. Naaaah.  Nothings happening.  Have you looked at news about the Arctic Ocean?  And nearer home for me, we’ve been watching the Athabasca Glacier shrink most of my life.
Naaaah.  Nothings happening.

]]> By: willsy http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343572 willsy Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343572 It disappoints me when scientists feel the need append climate change to every envirommental concern. If this plant is 200,00o years old, it has survived a couple of  climatic optimums far hotter (not to mention ice ages far colder) than today. If the plant is indeed in danger it far more likely to be the more prosaic reasons listed in the article. However "Really old plant affected by sediment" doesn't really have the same ring to it does it? It disappoints me when scientists feel the need append climate change to every envirommental concern. If this plant is 200,00o years old, it has survived a couple of  climatic optimums far hotter (not to mention ice ages far colder) than today. If the plant is indeed in danger it far more likely to be the more prosaic reasons listed in the article. However “Really old plant affected by sediment” doesn’t really have the same ring to it does it?

]]> By: stand http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343478 stand Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343478 Doesn't look a day over 75,000. Doesn’t look a day over 75,000.

]]> By: Jeff http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343451 Jeff Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343451 I always love how random a**holes on the Internet think they are smarter than scientists. Maybe a couple of you know what you are talking about...but  most likely not. I'm going to trust science. There's nothing wrong with trying to show some love and respect for the planet you live on for the current and most importantly future generations. I always love how random a**holes on the Internet think they are smarter than scientists. Maybe a couple of you know what you are talking about…but  most likely not. I’m going to trust science. There’s nothing wrong with trying to show some love and respect for the planet you live on for the current and most importantly future generations.

]]> By: Peter Erwin http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343365 Peter Erwin Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343365 From the paper: "Applying the same estimates to the genets shared between the two pairs of meadows ... yields a minimum age estimate between 80,000 and 200,000 years .... Although there is no biologically compelling reason to exclude this possibility, we consider it to be an unlikely scenario because local sea level changes during the last ice age (from −80,000 to −10,000 years) would place these sampling locations on land (the sea was 100 metres below its present level). The dominance of identical clones on both sides of the island may, therefore, be explained by the occurrence of even older clones that would have been split during glaciation and spread upwards into the newly inundated areas, tracking sea level rise." So, probably not 100,000-200,000 years old as a discrete entity. From the paper:
“Applying the same estimates to the genets shared between the two pairs of meadows … yields a minimum age estimate between 80,000 and 200,000 years …. Although there is no biologically compelling reason to exclude this possibility, we consider it to be an unlikely scenario because local sea level changes during the last ice age (from −80,000 to −10,000 years) would place these sampling locations on land (the sea was 100 metres below its present level). The dominance of identical clones on both sides of the island may, therefore, be explained by the occurrence of even older clones that would have been split during glaciation and spread upwards into the newly inundated areas, tracking sea level rise.”

So, probably not 100,000-200,000 years old as a discrete entity.

]]> By: DrunkenOrangetree http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343181 DrunkenOrangetree Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343181  Oh, well. Shortly you'll be dead, and we can be equally blase.  Oh, well. Shortly you’ll be dead, and we can be equally blase.

]]> By: sarahnocal http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343157 sarahnocal Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343157 Right; climates change.  That's why things this old are unusual. It's also why the oldest thing on earth isn't billions of years old, like the earth itself. Right; climates change.
 That’s why things this old are unusual. It’s also why the oldest thing on earth isn’t billions of years old, like the earth itself.

]]> By: humanresource http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343096 humanresource Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343096 200,000 years old? That's not even trying. Come back when you find something older than 250 MILLION years old. http://www.extremescience.com/oldest-living-thing.htm 200,000 years old? That’s not even trying. Come back when you find something older than 250 MILLION years old.

http://www.extremescience.com/oldest-living-thing.htm

]]> By: cleek http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343056 cleek Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343056 take that, stupid meadow! we rule! /Bender take that, stupid meadow!
we rule!

/Bender

]]> By: UrbanUndead http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343047 UrbanUndead Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343047 Wow, that's gorgeous... While it lasts... :( Wow, that’s gorgeous… While it lasts… :(

]]> By: Noctilucent Studios http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343010 Noctilucent Studios Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343010 I always thought the oldest thing in the world were those colonies off the west coast of Australia...stromatolites? I always thought the oldest thing in the world were those colonies off the west coast of Australia…stromatolites?

]]> By: Noctilucent Studios http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343008 Noctilucent Studios Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343008 Looks like DNA Looks like DNA

]]> By: BBanzai http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1343004 BBanzai Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1343004 Jeez. Just what I need. At some point my dad will ask me to mow it. Jeez. Just what I need. At some point my dad will ask me to mow it.

]]> By: millie fink http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1342999 millie fink Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1342999 Yeah, I'm with ya. Whenever trouble is coming my way, I prefer to close my eyes, ears and mouth until it goes away. Sometimes, I just stick my head in the ground instead. It's working so far! Yeah, I’m with ya. Whenever trouble is coming my way, I prefer to close my eyes, ears and mouth until it goes away. Sometimes, I just stick my head in the ground instead. It’s working so far!

]]> By: ROSSINDETROIT http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1342984 ROSSINDETROIT Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1342984 The Wikipedia article on clonal colonies has links to some fascinating plants.   I got lost in there last winter for hours and hours.  There's an Aspen clonal colony out west that's over 100 acres. The Wikipedia article on clonal colonies has links to some fascinating plants.  
I got lost in there last winter for hours and hours.  There’s an Aspen clonal colony out west that’s over 100 acres.

]]> By: Teller http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1342981 Teller Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1342981 Betty White exhales. Betty White exhales.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1342967 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1342967 I feel that way about human predation, but then I'm probably bigger than you. I feel that way about human predation, but then I’m probably bigger than you.

]]> By: ROSSINDETROIT http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1342964 ROSSINDETROIT Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1342964 If it's the one I'm thinking of in the Southwest it dates from only after the last ice age.  Maybe 10,000 years.  But it's a clonal colony of genetically identical individuals as well. There's a spruce up in Norway or Sweden that's been naturally cloning itself by layering for maybe 30K years IIRC. If it’s the one I’m thinking of in the Southwest it dates from only after the last ice age.  Maybe 10,000 years.  But it’s a clonal colony of genetically identical individuals as well.
There’s a spruce up in Norway or Sweden that’s been naturally cloning itself by layering for maybe 30K years IIRC.

]]> By: chenille http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1342958 chenille Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1342958 Not necessarily. The modern bacteria are not the same as their early ancestors, just not so structurally different as plants or animals. They aren't truly sexual but do trade genes, and actually change very quickly. I would be surprised if many living types are as old as this, though it's not impossible. I was thinking of some more conservative group, like certain amoebae or flagellates, which only divide and nothing else. Not necessarily. The modern bacteria are not the same as their early ancestors, just not so structurally different as plants or animals. They aren’t truly sexual but do trade genes, and actually change very quickly.

I would be surprised if many living types are as old as this, though it’s not impossible. I was thinking of some more conservative group, like certain amoebae or flagellates, which only divide and nothing else.

]]> By: Mundo al Revés http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1342957 Mundo al Revés Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1342957 Also, the oldest cave painting of the world has been found in Spain. But we didn't paint it. Neanderthals did. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21458-first-neanderthal-cave-paintings-discovered-in-spain.html Also, the oldest cave painting of the world has been found in Spain. But we didn’t paint it.

Neanderthals did.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21458-first-neanderthal-cave-paintings-discovered-in-spain.html

]]> By: Dave Pease http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1342952 Dave Pease Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1342952 I would like to take a walk in that grass. I would like to take a walk in that grass.

]]> By: bo1ngbolnguser001 http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1342953 bo1ngbolnguser001 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1342953 oldest species in the world maybe, not the oldest thing in the world by any stretch oldest species in the world maybe, not the oldest thing in the world by any stretch

]]> By: RussellChaplin http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1342947 RussellChaplin Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1342947 I always add, "But oh well, it had a good run." I always add, “But oh well, it had a good run.”

]]> By: niktemadur http://boingboing.net/2012/02/10/the-oldest-thing-in-the-world.html#comment-1342943 niktemadur Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143349#comment-1342943 Every article synopsis I read about unique biological entities seems to close with an obligatory Debbie Downer flourish. "Here's a unique species you've never heard about. BTW, it's dying!". Is there such a thing as too aware? Are we supposed to be like Andie McDowell in her therapy session at the beginning of <i>sex, lies and videotape</i>? Every article synopsis I read about unique biological entities seems to close with an obligatory Debbie Downer flourish.
“Here’s a unique species you’ve never heard about. BTW, it’s dying!”.

Is there such a thing as too aware? Are we supposed to be like Andie McDowell in her therapy session at the beginning of sex, lies and videotape?

]]>