Trivia
HardWhat Was The Oldest Living Organism Ever Discovered?
Answer: A Pine Tree
The oldest organism ever discovered was a pine tree, specifically a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine–a species of pine tree known for their hardiness and longevity. The particular Great Basin Bristlecone Pine in question was cut down in 1964 specifically because it had grown so old and hardy.
Graduate student Donald Rusk Currey was taking core samples from trees in the area for his research. When he came upon the old Bristlecone (the tree would later be renamed Prometheus), he couldn’t get a clean core sample and broke multiple tools in his attempts. Forest Service personal suggested he fell it and examine the core of the tree directly. He took them up on the advice, and upon felling the tree he discovered that it was much older than he had estimated–the extant rings indicated the tree was at least 4,862 years old and possibly much older, making Prometheus the oldest non-clonal organism in the world at the time of its death.
Trivia
HardWhat Mobile Phone Service Preceded Modern Cell Phones?
Trivia
HardAlfred Nobel Established the Nobel Prize After What?
Trivia
HardBeneath The Floor Of The White House’s Press Room Is A Decommissioned?
Trivia
HardThe First Platformer Video Game Was?
Trivia
HardWhich Programming Language Is Named After The World’s First Computer Programmer?
Trivia
EasyThe First Payphone Was Located In?
Trivia
HardA Brannock Device Is Used To Measure What?
Trivia
HardJames Randi Will Pay You One Million Dollars To Prove What?
Trivia
EasyThe Only Variety Of Apples Native To North America Are?