The bowhead whale is the world’s longest-living mammal , sometimes making it to a staggering 200 years old. How does it do it? A new study sheds some light on the secrets of this curious cetacean's extreme longevity – and it could have ramifications for how we tackle aging in our own species too. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

As well as its outrageous lifespan, the bowhead whale ( Balaena mysticetus ) also boasts an impressive size. Weighing over 80,000 kilograms (176,400 pounds), it is the second-largest animal on Earth. In theory, such large-bodied, long-lived animals should be at greater risk of developing cancer. Their bodies contain more cells and therefore will undergo more cell divisions over their elonga

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