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The Mathematics of the Lifespan of Species

Posted by samzenpus on from the turn-out-the-lights dept.

skade88 writes "NPR is reporting on a study in which the author claims to have found the formula to predict the average life span of members of a species. It does not apply to specific individuals of that species, only to the average life span of members of the species as a whole. From the article: 'It's hard to believe that creatures as different as jellyfish and cheetahs, daisies and bats, are governed by the same mathematical logic, but size seems to predict lifespan. The formula seems to be nature's way to preserve larger creatures who need time to grow and prosper, and it not only operates in all living things, but even in the cells of living things. It tells animals for example, that there's a universal limit to life, that though they come in different sizes, they have roughly a billion and a half heart beats; elephant hearts beat slowly, hummingbird hearts beat fast, but when your count is up, you are over.'"

7 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. That's why I don't exercise by fustakrakich · · Score: 5, Funny

    Keep my heart rate to a minimum...

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  2. So if I want to increase my lifespan by exploder · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...I should gain a couple hundred pounds?

    --
    Yo dawg, I heard you like the Ackermann function, so OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD
  3. Dunbar in Catch-22 by retroworks · · Score: 4, Funny

    Time passes faster when you're having fun. If we have a limited number of heartbeats, the trick is to stay as miserable as possible, so that the time will pass more slowly.

    --
    Gently reply
  4. Just proves by zixxt · · Score: 2, Funny

    All life was designed by God.

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    ---- GENERATION 26: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation.
  5. Relax by quantaman · · Score: 3, Funny

    That thumping sound you hear in your chest?

    That's your life beating away.

    If that sounds worrying you shouldn't worry, the worrying only just makes your heart beat faster and brings your inevitable demise that much closer.

    That worry is very dangerous, even if you stop now you've already shortened your lifespan, and for every second you worry longer you're losing more and more of your life. This worry and stress is literally killing you and it won't stop unless you stop getting stressed out.

    Just some friendly advice.

    --
    I stole this Sig
  6. 2038 by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    "roughly a billion and a half heart beats...when your count is up, you are over.'"

    But I have a Unix heart; the counter flips over to zero in 2038.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  7. Re:Exercise by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 3, Funny

    There is that Reality Distortion Field again.
    On my Android phone, it says your heart rate is 56 beats a minute.

    --
    You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.