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CrowdScience

From Oldest to Strongest Living Thing

CrowdScience

BBC

Science

4.81K Ratings

🗓️ 8 December 2017

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Trees are old – they transcend human generations – but are they the oldest living things on Earth? This story began in June 2017 when we explored a question sent in from CrowdScience listener William. Many of you got in touch after the programme with questions of your own. So we’re revisiting our trees programme but also exploring another question from listener James, who wants to know what, pound for pound or gram for gram, is the strongest animal alive on Earth today? Marnie Chesterton wrestles with one of them and – spoiler alert – it’s not a gorilla.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producers: Jen Whyntie

(Photo: Kumbuka, a 15-year-old western lowland gorilla. Credit: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of

0:07.0

Happiness Podcast.

0:08.0

For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want

0:14.4

to share that science with you.

0:16.1

And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.

0:19.4

I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that

0:25.4

calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.

0:31.1

Oh wow that is quite an impressive tree. That's massive

0:38.0

that's massive. I really need to try and put my arms around this. I mean I can't but let's see how many times a hug fits around this tree.

0:48.0

One, two. Two. That's eight arm spans worth of trunk.

1:04.0

That's really good.

1:08.0

Hello and welcome to Crowd Science from the BBC.

1:11.0

I'm Marnie Chasterton and this is the show that takes your science

1:14.5

questions about life, earth or anything you're curious about to researchers all

1:19.4

over the world hunting for answers. And if you're new to our podcast then an extra special hello

1:25.1

from the team and a big thank you for downloading crowd signs. We've been around

1:29.6

for just over a year answering all sorts of wonderful questions sent in by you, such as how can I remember more,

1:37.0

can we use parasites to improve our health, could all cars be electric? electric?

1:43.0

Where do accents come from? Are there microbes on Mars?

1:45.0

Could a robot be your doctor?

1:47.0

Oh, I could go on and on.

1:48.0

You'll find all our podcasts ready and waiting in your podcast app.

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