What if there were a great ape species that could live over 1,000 years? That’s basically
Heliconius in the butterfly world. The insects live around 25 times longer than their butterfly cousins, and scientists think they have one clue as to why: pollen. But as
Katie Wu, a science writer at
The Atlantic, explains, that’s not the whole story. She and host
Nate Rott also talk about how bats sip from the fountain of youth – and what it all may mean for humans.
Read Katie's full story here.If you liked this episode, check out our episode on a pill that could extend dogs’ lives…and maybe yours someday. Interested in more science about aging? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. It includes perks like bonus episodes, early access, archive access, curated playlists and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See
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