Summary
Recently, a photo claiming to show a 392-year-old Greenland shark has captured attention online. The photo is linked to a 2016 study where researchers estimated some Greenland sharks could be very old, possibly up to 512 years. Experts used radiocarbon dating to make these estimates but noted the difficulty in accurately determining the age of marine animals.
Key Facts
- A photo claiming a Greenland shark is 392 years old has circulated widely on social media.
- The photo's origin is a screenshot from a video shared by researcher Julius Nielsen in 2020.
- The claim about the shark's age comes from a study published in 2016.
- Researchers examined 28 female Greenland sharks and estimated they could live between 272 to 512 years.
- They used radiocarbon dating, a method measuring carbon changes from nuclear tests, to estimate the sharks' ages.
- Greenland sharks mature slowly and can live for several centuries.
- The photo often includes claims of the shark being much older, like 400 or 500 years, which researchers dispute.
- Researcher Julius Nielsen stated the specific age of the shark in the photo is uncertain, and any estimate remains unverified.
