ADAPTATIONS -- LIFE -- IMMORTALITY

Rain!   We actually had some rain here in Southern California where I live.   I know -- rain, moisture, or snow isn’t that big a deal where most reside, or where I grew up, but times and location change.   Where I once lived in the Midwest we coped with rivers overflowing.  One year there was real concern a dam would break flooding a whole valley, but the waters stopped just shy of overflowing the rim.  

Then, there were the occasional tornadoes that ripped havoc through the area which were of concern.  Wintertime meant snow – lots and lots of snow, cold temperatures often going way below zero – trying to stay warm.  Slipping and sliding on icy surfaces in our cars and trying to remain on our feet. 

I’ve enjoyed nature’s offerings everywhere I lived – including a few years in the Southwest’s desert-like climate with flash floods in washes, dust storms and what they called hundred year flooding that strangely came much more frequently.   Summer came and we tried to stay cool. 

Now in Southern California, the drought we’ve been having for several years gives us reason to not take nature’s gifts for granted.  The fires about which I recently wrote, finally under control, have left those homeowners concerned the vegetation barren hillsides around them could result in mudslides, so once again some have vacated their homes as a precaution.  Fortunately, the worst case scenarios have not developed so far.   Rain is expected again the middle of the coming week, so we have our fingers crossed for their safety once more.

I can be grateful to have never lived where I was immediately subjected to most of these life-threatening dangers.  Where I live now in the foothills of northeastern Los Angeles County these fires, mudslides and the like have not been a close by concern.   Yes, “the Big One” earthquake is a matter with which we know we’re at risk for having, but it’s always something, somewhere, isn’t it?  

***.         

The adaptations we make to our environment so we can not only survive but enjoy ourselves in the process, does keep us occupied.   We humans even keep trying to extend our lives longer and longer.  Only recently did I read statistics have shown life expectancy in the U.S. has declined in recent years as you probably heard on the news, too.  Nevertheless, I can well imagine some among us are querying in their mind whether or not its possible we could remedy that, perhaps even eventually becoming immortal.  

I knew there were some creatures who lived much longer than humans, so was curious to see what they were and how long they lived.  You can read more about them and see colorful photos of them at One Kind Planet HERE:  

Red Sea Urchin – 200 years

Koi Fish – 200 years

Long Finned Eel – 60 years

Mccaw Parrot – 60-80 years

African Elephant – 70 years

Galapagos Giant Tortoise – 152 years

Bowhead Whale – 200 years

Greenland Shark – 400 years

Ocean Quahog – more than 400 years

Then, there’s the ......

Immortal Jellyfish – not truly immortal, but fascinating to scientists because this creature if its body starts to deteriorate or becomes injured can regenerate itself.    What is the secret?  

World Health.net sheds further light on “...this tiny creature the size of a human pinky nail”.

Would you want to be immortal?