Supposedly, each animal gets a billion heart beats during a normal lifetime. From elephant to shrew, the total number of heartbeats an animal has during its life, taken as a proportional to its lifespan, seems consistent. In other words: the bigger the creature, the slower its heart rate, the longer its life. The hearts of smaller creatures beat faster, and their lives are shorter. Do they fit in an equal amount of living? Isaac Asimov wrote an essay about this once.
I mean after all that means most people would have to work forever, look at it this way. If humans average life span was 10,000 years…most would have to work 9,000 years before retirement (you think your boss is bad for a few years now and your company doesn’t care)
Naw I’ll take a shorter life span to avoid that, but to me hell would be an eternity of having to go to work at my job…and I kind of like my job.
humans are the messed-up species.. Tortoises move 0.02mph and live 200 years, the parrot comment above is true… and all other species are most successful when forced to struggle the most… in our species, struggle is met with state benefits and those least financial solvent have the highest record of reproducing.
emptc12 over 8 years ago
Supposedly, each animal gets a billion heart beats during a normal lifetime. From elephant to shrew, the total number of heartbeats an animal has during its life, taken as a proportional to its lifespan, seems consistent. In other words: the bigger the creature, the slower its heart rate, the longer its life. The hearts of smaller creatures beat faster, and their lives are shorter. Do they fit in an equal amount of living? Isaac Asimov wrote an essay about this once.
linsonl over 8 years ago
I tend to go with “The early worm is breakfast” and “The second mouse gets the cheese”, myself.
angelfiredragon over 8 years ago
Would you really want to live forever?
I mean after all that means most people would have to work forever, look at it this way. If humans average life span was 10,000 years…most would have to work 9,000 years before retirement (you think your boss is bad for a few years now and your company doesn’t care)
Naw I’ll take a shorter life span to avoid that, but to me hell would be an eternity of having to go to work at my job…and I kind of like my job.
nopainogain over 8 years ago
humans are the messed-up species.. Tortoises move 0.02mph and live 200 years, the parrot comment above is true… and all other species are most successful when forced to struggle the most… in our species, struggle is met with state benefits and those least financial solvent have the highest record of reproducing.
dflak over 8 years ago
It isn’t about the quantity of your years; it’s about the quality of your years. By that standard, I’ve outlived most people on the planet.
I plan to live to be over 100. I might make it. I have a 60+ year head start on somebody born today.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault over 8 years ago
I ’m not so lazy that I would prefer to die rather than work a little every day or so.
brklnbern over 8 years ago
Good point. One current captive giant tortoise is 160.
neverenoughgold over 8 years ago
An old friend called me earlier this year and asked me what I am doing since retirement.I replied, “Nothing!”
A couple of weeks ago, the same guy called me for a chat and again asked me what I was doing.Again I replied, “Nothing!”
He then said, “But that’s what you said six months ago!”
I replied, “I’m not done yet!”
neverenoughgold over 8 years ago
My money’s on the tortoise…
danketaz Premium Member over 8 years ago
Well, being able to outrun your fellow tribesmen will lead to a longer life in the event of a cave bear chase.