A Laboratory Turns Deadly Insect Venom into Medicine

  To most of us, medicine comes from a drugstore. But originally, much of the medicine developed in the last century came from natural sources: plants, bacteria and fungi. Now, a group of scientists in Great Britain are hoping to develop a medicine from poisonous insects. They are researching whether the deadly venom of some insects can work against bacteria that make people sick.   Venomtech laboratory About 400 insects live in plastic containers in the Venomtech laboratory. Each container has an image of a skull and crossbones. The images warn that a bite from the insects inside can be anything from painful to downright deadly.    The venom from these insects contains hundreds of chemical components. Each component has a different target and effect. Medical researchers, such as Venomtech managing director Steven Trim, separate the venom into its component parts. Then they create a library of those components, looking for the ones that could be turned into new drugs. “Some of them we found can kill bacteria, bacteria like E.Coli and staphylococcus, so they're very relevant at the moment where modern medicines (are) failing. And we're also finding venoms that are modifying and killing cancer cells.” Finding new ways to kill bacteria is important to researchers. One reason is because people have used antibiotics so much that some bacteria can now resist it. For example, tuberculosis used to be curable with antibiotics. Now it is not.   How do they get the venom out?   To get as much venom as possible, researchers feed the insects well, then put them to sleep temporarily. Steven Trim of Venomtech says researchers anaesthetize the invertebrates to make removing the venom safer. After all, an immobile insect cannot bite. Anaesthetizing the insect is better for the animals as well, says Trim. Researchers then electrically stimulate the insect to contract the muscle and squeeze the gland. The pressure produces a small amount of venom. Researchers separate the venom into hundreds of proteins. Each protein contains between one and five different molecules. Someday, those tiny molecules might be turned into powerful new drugs.                                                                                   I’m Marsha James. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Marsha James adapted this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ____________________________________________________ Words in This Story venom – n. poison that is produced by an animal and used to kill or injure another animal drug-resistant – n. the reduction in effectiveness of a drug downright – adv. completely or totally maximize – v. to increase something as much as possible peptide n. a compound containing two or more amino acids in which the carboxyl group of one acid is linked to the group of other anaesthetize v. – deprive of feeling or awareness immobile – adj. unable to move gland – n. an organ in the body that makes a substance which is used by the body

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Antioxidants in Citrus May Fight Obesity-Related Diseases

  Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and grapefruit in a diet could reduce the chance of chronic diseases that are related to obesity, according to a new study. Citrus fruits contain antioxidants. New research is giving more evidence about how antioxidants protect the cells inside one’s body. There is a substance in citrus fruits called flavanones. Flavanones are antioxidants that help people’s bodies reduce the amount of stress. The diseases linked to obesity are caused by stress and inflammation. Paula Ferreira is a researcher at the Universidade Estadual Paulista in Brazil. She did the research and spoke of the results. “…[W]e can use citrus flavanones, a class of antioxidants, to prevent or delay chronic diseases caused by obesity in humans,” said Ferreira. Researchers also discovered citrus could help people who are not obese but eat a Western-style diet, she said. A Western-style diet includes foods with fats and red meat. Researchers say antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables, such as citrus flavanones, help keep a good balance of chemicals in the bodies of animals that eat a high fat diet, even when they are under stress. Ferreira said the best way to get antioxidants is to drink them. Millions stay healthy by drinking orange juice each morning. The experiment by Ferreira and colleagues involved 50 mice. They fed the mice either a normal diet, a high fat diet, or a high fat diet with three flavanones. Researchers found the mice that ate a high fat diet, but no flavanones, had significantly higher levels of cell damage. The experiment lasted one month. Researchers now plan to conduct human studies. Researchers want to see whether it is healthier to give citrus flavanones in juice or pill form. The researchers presented their findings at the American Chemical Society’s annual meeting in Pennsylvania. I’m Jill Robbins. Jessica Berman wrote this story for VOA News. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   citrus – n. a juicy fruit that has a thick skin and that comes from a tree or shrub that grows in warm areas lemon – n.  a yellow citrus fruit that has a sour taste grapefruit – n. a large yellow citrus fruit chronic – adj. continuing or occurring again and again for a long time obesity – n. fat in a way that is unhealthy inflammation – n. a condition in which a part of your body becomes red, swollen, and painful pill – n. a small, rounded object that you swallow and that contains medicine or vitamins

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Some Foods Can Be Medicine

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Food as medicine is not a new idea. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates is commonly quoted as saying, 'Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.' Hippocrates is often called the “father of modern medicine” even though he was born around 460 B.C. But modern medical research confirms that certain foods can help cure, prevent, or even cause some diseases. That is the subject of a new book called Anti-Inflammation Cookbook, by Amanda Haas. Haas is a professional cook. Before we talk about her book, let’s first talk about inflammation. Inflammation is a natural response of our immune system. It is a condition in which a part of your body becomes red, swollen and painful.  Neil Bernard is an associate professor of medicine at George Washington University's medical school. When he explains how inflammation affects the human body, it sounds as if he is talking about a war zone. "It's the body's way to attacking an invader. So if bacteria or viruses enter the body, inflammation is a way of knocking them out." Dr. Bernard also says that when inflammation becomes chronic, the body turns against its own tissue. He compares it, again, to war. He uses the term, friendly fire. This is when a soldier accidentally fires upon his own troops. "It's a biological equivalent of friendly fire. So for example, in rheumatoid arthritis, the joints are inflamed and that's not a bacterium that's being attacked, it's the lining of your own joints. That's where inflammation becomes a problem." Rheumatoid arthritis was one of several conditions that Amanda Haas suffered from. She went to an allergist to try to find out what was wrong with her body. An allergist is a doctor who is an expert in the treatment of allergies. And an allergy is a medical problem that causes someone to be sick after eating, touching or breathing something that is harmless to most people. The allergist suggested that perhaps her health problems were caused by the food she was eating. "Things like chronic heartburn and stomach pain and back problems. And it was an allergist who said to me one day, Amanda, these are just all different forms of inflammation in your body. I think it's something that you're eating. And since you cook for a living, why don't you go and figure out what's going to make you feel great and share it with other people?'" And that is what she did. She stopped eating some kinds of sugars and reduced the amount of caffeine she drank. Haas found that some healthy foods were also causing her some problems. People with joint pain from inflammation, she says, could be sensitive to peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. Haas is a professional cook. So, she started to look closely at the ingredients she often uses in her recipes. "… things that we all probably know we shouldn't have too much of, things like refined sugars, too much caffeine. A lot of people (know that) if you have joint and arthritic issues, you can be sensitive to peppers and eggplants and tomatoes. And I had so much to work with. She uses a lot of green, leafy vegetables, spices and citrus in her cooking to make it anti-inflammatory. “And I wanted people to understand that eating an anti-inflammatory diet can be delicious, It’s just you're going to be using a lot of green, leafy vegetables as you can get. I use a lot of spices, fresh herbs as well. You'll see me use a lot of citrus and natural sweeteners, like a little honey or maple syrup. You wouldn't see me using a lot of refined sugar at all." In her Anti-Inflammation Cookbook, Haas shares many of her vegan recipes along with others that use animal protein. A vegan diet does not include any animal meat or animal by-products such as milk or eggs. She explains that most people who are trying to eat an anti-inflammatory diet will not eat much animal protein. But, she says that grass-fed beef has omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Those are good for the body.   “I learned so much about grass-fed beef. So, the thing that's so fascinating is that if cattle is grass-fed, the meat has a lot of the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that we find in salmon and other oily fish that are so good for us. So, most doctors would say 4-ounce portion or less can really be a great part of any inflammatory diet." One of the author’s favorite recipes in her book is her grandmother’s Country Captain's Chicken. The dish has lots of turmeric, a spice that is known for reducing inflammation in the body. She also uses black pepper in the recipe but not just for flavor. Haas says the black pepper makes it easier for the body to use the turmeric. She calls this “bioavailability.” “And one little thing to note that's interesting is that turmeric is well-known for being very anti-inflammatory (spice), but to increase the bioavailability of it if you add black pepper it actually becomes more effective.” Haas even made sweets and desserts healthier by changing the fat she used. She explains that her Chocolate Coconut Brownies use coconut oil instead of butter. Unrefined, pure coconut oil, she says, can help lower cholesterol levels. And the coconut oil gives the brownies what she calls, “the most incredible texture.” “They have coconut oil in them as the fat source. And you know, we thought coconut oil was bad for us, but that's because it was being so refined. And now we're finding out that good coconut oil can potentially lower our cholesterol. And so they're just these amazing brownies that have the most incredible texture with the coconut oil in them." Dr. Bernard says he is happy to see more people becoming aware of the importance of healthy eating, especially eating a more plant-based diet. "We always favor vegan diet, plant-based diet. We want to emphasize some these food as the healthy --nuts or seeds --and getting away of greasy stuff. Unfortunately, the medical world tends to rely on prescriptions and we sometimes neglect things that can be more natural, safer and in the long run, more effective." Cutting out foods that may be making you sick is one way to make that ancient advice – let food be your medicine – useful in your modern, daily life. I’m Anna Matteo. In what ways do you use food as medicine? Let us know in the Comments Section. Faiza Elmasry wrote this story for VOA News. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story ingredient – n. one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc. recipe – n. a set of instructions for making food chronic medical : continuing or occurring again and again for a long time allergist medical : a doctor who is an expert in the treatment of allergies spice – n. a substance (such as pepper or nutmeg) that is used in cooking to add flavor to food and that comes from a dried plant and is usually a powder or seed citrus – n. a juicy fruit (such as an orange, grapefruit, or lemon) that has a thick skin and that comes from a tree or shrub that grows in warm areas honey – n. a thick, sweet substance made by bees maple syrup – n. a sweet, thick liquid made from the sap of maple trees refined sugar – n. White and brown table sugars are refined, meaning they have gone through a chemical process that removes impurities and beneficial nutrients. vegan – n. a person who does not eat any food that comes from animals and who often also does not use animal products (such as leather) bioavailability – n. the degree and rate at which a substance (as a drug) is absorbed into a living system or is made available at the site of physiological activity potentially – adv. capable of becoming real texture – n. the way that a food or drink feels in your mouth greasy – adj. containing or cooked with a large amount of fat long run – n. a relatively long period of time —usually used in the phrase in the long run  

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Study Finds Millennials ‘Optimistic’ About the Future

  A new public opinion survey of young people around the world finds they are optimistic about the world and support progressive, or liberal, values. The study of people between the ages of 18 and 35 is the first World Economic Forum Global Shapers Annual Survey. People in that age group who answered researchers’ questions are known as millennials. More than 26,000 millennials from 181 countries answered the survey in nine languages. They include business leaders, students, police officers, rich people and those who have little money. The World Economic Forum says the results tell about the thinking, priorities and concerns of young people from all areas of the world. Adeyemi Babington-Ashaye heads the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community. He says the results show that young people believe the world offers many opportunities. He says they also believe that technology has an important part in creating jobs. He says millennials have a sense of unity and believe they share a destiny: the things they will experience in the future. He says many of those asked support technology, but are worried about it, too. “Although they embrace technology, there is an overwhelming percentage (that) said that they were either concerned or very concerned about privacy. More than 70 percent said they avoided downloading applications for privacy concerns as well.”  These young people believe corruption and a lack of accountability are the most serious problems in their countries. Accountability is the belief by those in government that they must explain their actions or decisions. Millennials expect their leaders to take action while acting with honesty, humility and transparency. Millennials believe climate change is the most serious problem facing the planet, followed by wars, religious conflicts and poverty. Babington-Ashaye says people working on the poll were surprised by the sympathy so many millennials have for refugees. He says 67 percent of those asked have a positive view of refugees. “So, not only do they have empathy, but 73 percent would welcome refugees to their country. And you can see it grades down to their city, their neighborhood. We even have 22 percent saying they'd welcome refugees to their home.”  The survey found that millennials prefer to use laptop computers for emailing and online shopping. But they prefer their smartphone for social media activities. More than half said they strongly support same-sex marriage, although most young people in the Middle East and Africa do not. Fifty percent of those asked believe they can affect how decisions are made in their country. But only 44 percent of Europeans believe they can. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. Correspondent Lisa Schlein reported this story from Geneva. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story optimistic – adj. having or showing hope for the future; expecting good things to happen priority – n. something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first embrace – v. to accept (something or someone) readily or gladly humility – n. the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people; the quality or state of being humble transparency – n. the quality that makes something obvious or easy to understand empathy – n. the feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions  

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Everyday Grammar: Superlatives

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Group Wants Fathers to Volunteer at US Schools

A group called the National Center for Fathering launched a program for American men almost 20 years ago. The program is called Watch D.O.G.S. D.O.G.S. stands for Dads of Great Students. The program tries to get men to spend more time serving as volunteers at schools across the United States. Most of the men are fathers. But they can also be grandfathers, uncles and step-fathers. The program was the idea of two men, both dads. They launched Watch D.O.G.S. after two boys, aged 13 and 11, shot and killed four people at an Arkansas school in 1998. Studies show that children generally do better in school when fathers are engaged in their day-to-day activities. One study in 2013 found that a father’s engagement can help a child succeed in school. It can also increase the child’s chances of finishing high school, while reducing his or her risk of drug abuse. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the findings. The Watch D.O.G.S. program now operates in more than 5,000 schools. It requires that men serve as school volunteers at least one full day during the school year. The men do a little bit of everything during their volunteer days. Some help to direct cars and other vehicles entering school property to drop off children. Others will have a meal with small groups of children. This seems to help boys and girls behave better while out of the classroom. During the rest of the day, the men can read to students, help teachers with activities or assist with small group projects. Adam Mehmud volunteers at a school in northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. Mehmud is a single father with three sons. His own father died when he was very young. So Mehmud says he wants to be sure to be a good father. He has been a Watch D.O.G.S. volunteer for three years. These days, he says, technology can take over a child’s life. It is harder for parents to find time to connect with their children. But the school day is free from video games and smart phones. Adam Mehmud said he and other men see how interactions that may seem small can help children learn the right way to do things. “I see my sons do very thoughtful things, and hopefully part of the reason for that is because I try to do things for others, too,” Mehmud said. I’m Dan Friedell.   Tabinda Naeem wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do your children’s schools allow fathers to get involved? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story engage – v. to become involved with (someone or something) dad – n. a father bit – n. piece  

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Lesson 26: This Game Is Fun!

Summary Anna plays the game "Catch Americana" and learns more about U.S. Presidents. She also learns to watch where she walks! Speaking Learn to pronounce the new words for this lesson. Find out more about the U.S. Presidents and the symbols in the game Anna and Dan play in the video. You can also learn another way to warn someone of danger. ​ Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how people say "ought to" in fast speech. Conversation   Anna: This is the Roosevelt Memorial. Where is the symbol? Anna remembers that Dan said: You have to find things that aren't really there. ... When you find an American symbol, you win points and a Fun Fact about a U.S. President. Anna: Yay! I found Uncle Sam and I won another 40 points! What is the Fun Fact? Voice: Franklin Roosevelt was the first to fly in a plane as president! Anna: I didn't know that. This is a really beautiful memorial. Anna: This is the Lincoln Memorial! Where is the symbol? Anna: I found it! The Statue of Liberty! Please give me my Fun Fact. Voice: Abraham Lincoln was a great wrestler! Anna: I didn't know that. Lincoln wanted freedom for all people. So, the Statue of Liberty works well. Anna: And I won 20 points! Time to find the next symbol. Dan: Hey! Look out! Anna: Sorry. Hey, it's you! Now, I should be more careful. Dan: That’s okay. Anna: This game is a lot of fun. Hey, what’s your name? Dan: Dan. What’s yours? Anna: Anna. Dan: Like Americana! Anna: Yeah, I guess so. Dan: Did you find any symbols? Anna: Yes, I found three and won 120 points! Dan: Me too. But, did you find the bald eagle? Anna: No. Did you? Dan: No. First one to find it wins? Dan: Anna, look out for that tree! Anna: I learned a lot about presidents with this game. But I ought to be more careful. Until next time …! Writing Are there any memorials to famous leaders in your town or in your country? Tell us about them. Do you admire the leader? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about sports with a friend. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Make Associations. When we think of connections between things we are making associations.  In this lesson, Dan makes an association to help himself remember Anna's name. After Anna tells him her name, he says, "Like Americana!" The name "Anna" sounds like the end of the word "Americana" to Dan.  Can you find another example of making associations in the conversation? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan  for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz ​Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words (air)plane - n. a vehicle that has wings and an engine and can carry people or things in the air fly - v. to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft freedom - n. the power to do what you want to do or the ability to move or act freely Look out - phrasal verb. used to tell someone to be aware of something dangerous wrestler - n. someone who competes in the sport of wrestling yay - interjection.used to express joy, approval, or excitement   American Presidents and Symbols (Part Two) Abraham Lincoln: America's 16th President, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It said the 3 million enslaved people in the South were free. They could enjoy some kinds of freedom after the end of the American Civil War. Franklin Delano Roosevelt America's 32nd president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was president from March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945. He was the only President elected to four terms, and the only paralyzed President. FDR led the United States through World War Two. (President Roosevelt's symbol in the Catch Americana game is Uncle Sam. The Uncle Sam symbol called many American men to join the U.S. Army to fight in the World Wars.  George Washington ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about associations with sports and warnings using "look out." For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: modal "ought to;" irregular past tense verbs Topics: U.S. Presidents; Americana symbols Learning Strategy: Make Associations Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Pronouncing "ought to" in fast speech; Giving warnings with the expression "look out;" Symbols associated with American Presidents ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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English No Longer Requirement for New York City Taxi Drivers

In Louisiana Flooding, It’s Neighbor Helping Neighbor

  Graham Kinchen had an emergency when a sandbag wall near his home began to fall apart. The wall was protecting his house in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from the recent flooding. He let people know about his problem on Facebook and by telephone. Within five minutes, friends gathered to help rebuild the wall. The incident shows how neighbors have helped each other in response to the recent flooding in Baton Rouge and nearby communities. Baton Rouge is the capital of the southern state of Louisiana. Storms and flooding hit the area from August 8th to 14th. Thirteen people were killed and about 100,000 homes were damaged. Thousands of people are homeless. Many are staying in shelters or the homes of friends or family. Spirit of Cooperation “We have seen a great spirit of cooperation, with neighbors, churches and friends pitching in,” said Peter Kovacs, editor of The Advocate, the daily newspaper in Baton Rouge.“ Many of us have unexpected houseguests, and we’re making a great adventure of it.” Kinchen and his wife, Denise, use a boat to get from their front door to the road. Sandbags have been keeping most of the flood waters out of their house. Louisiana has suffered severe flooding before. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 killed 1,833 people and heavily damaged or destroyed 300,000 homes. Many residents of New Orleans left their flooded homes behind and moved to other cities, including Baton Rouge. Eleven years later, many former New Orleans residents remain in Baton Rouge. Obama: Confident Rebuilding Will Move Forward “Sometimes when these kinds of things happen, it can seem a little bit too much to bear,” said President Barack Obama. Obama was in Baton Rouge Tuesday, noting that he had visited New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina when he was a U.S. senator. Obama said he is confident flooded communities in Baton Rouge and nearby communities will recover, just as many neighborhoods in New Orleans did after Hurricane Katrina. “And the reason I can say that with confidence is because that's what Americans do in times like this,” Obama said. “I know how resilient the people of Louisiana are, and I know that you will rebuild again.” By resilient, Obama means having the ability to overcome problems, no matter how tough. Dustin Clouatre  is a member of the self-named “Cajun Navy.” It is a group of residents who use Facebook to organize private boat owners to rescue people and move food and other aid where it is needed. 'Love Is All You Need' He soon became popular on social media. “Me and my uncle had just gotten a family out of a house and something got caught in the motor,” he said. It was a sign that said, “Love is All You Need.” The photo quickly spread on social media. David Vitter is a Republican senator from Louisiana. He visited flooded communities with the president on Tuesday. “There’s a spirit of helping folks and it really was in full display when the president visited the neighborhood,” Vitter said. Vitter calls the rain that brought the floods a 1000-year event, meaning it has a one-in-1,000 chance of happening in any year. The Red Cross said it is the biggest natural disaster in the United States since Super Storm Sandy in 2012. Despite this, Vitter and others said the Louisiana disaster has not received much news coverage outside the state. Competition for News Coverage “I think people are a little disaster weary, plus there are other competing stories,” Vitter said. Both Vitter and Obama praised the willingness of people to help each other. They spoke to a young African-American man, who was helping his father clean out his flooded home. The man was also helping his dad’s elderly white neighbor, who lives alone. The work of removing flooded walls, floors and furniture is not easy. Kevin White has been working on flood relief for the past week in Saint Amant, Louisiana. He said the smells at the water-damaged houses are terrible. White is housing a family of four who were flooded out of their own home. He and the family spent the past few days tearing out walls and throwing out everything else damaged in his guests’ flooded house. The damaged things represent almost everything the family owned, he said. I’m Bruce Alpert. Marissa Melton reported this story for VOA. Bruce Alpert adapted the story for VOA Learning English. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. __________________________________________________________ Words in this Story sandbag -- n. bag filled with sand and used as a weight or to build temporary walls to protect homes and businesses pitching in -- v. offering help houseguests -- n. people who are invited to stay at a person’s house confident -- n. having a feeling or belief that people can do something well or succeed at something resilient -- adj. having the ability to overcome problems display -- n. put out so people can see it weary -- adv. tired, lacking interest because you have seen it often before furniture -- n. chairs, tables, beds, etc., that are used to make a room ready for use

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English in a Minute: Turn the Tables

When should you "turn the tables?" Find out how to use this expression in this week's English in a Minute!

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The Longest Living Vertebrate is… a Shark

  New research found the longest living animal on Earth with a backbone is  – a shark. The research, published in Science magazine, found the Greenland shark is the longest living vertebrate – or animal with a backbone-- in the world. The gray-colored sharks live in the cold waters of the Arctic and are named after Greenland, the world’s largest island. After examining one of these sharks, scientists decided it was born in the icy waters about 400 years ago, and only died recently. An international team of biologists and physicists was able to estimate the ages of 28 dead female Greenland sharks by studying the lenses of their eyes. It is a new way to learn the age of an animal. Eight of the sharks were probably 200 years old or more, and could even have been 300 years old. That would make them older than the bowhead whale, which earlier was believed to have been the oldest vertebrate at about 211 years old, according to the Associated Press. This also means Greenland sharks can live more than three times longer than humans. Many people these days can expect to live into their eighties. African elephants average about 70 years. The oldest of the Greenland sharks the scientists studied was nearly 5 meters long. It was thought to have been 392 years old when it was caught four years ago.  But because the testing method is so new, it is not exact.  The study’s lead author is Julius Nielsen, a marine biologist from Denmark. He says the 392 number could be off by as much as 120 years in either direction. That means the shark was probably born sometime between the years 1500 and 1740, with 1620 being the most likely. "It's an estimate. It's not a determination," Nielsen said. "It is the best we can do." Even at the lowest age, the shark would have been 272 years old when it died, and still would be the longest-living animal with a backbone, Nielsen said. "I don't know why they get as old, but I hope someone will find out," Nielsen said. Christopher Lowe is director of the shark lab at California State University in Long Beach. He was not part of the study, but praised it. In an email to AP, Lowe wrote that he is not surprised that Greenland sharks live a long time.  But, he said, "I'm really shocked by the magnitude of that longevity."   Lowe said that when the water is deep and cold, that usually means fish can live a long time. Why? It could be because the cold water slows down an animal’s metabolism—or the way it processes food into energy. While Greenland sharks are among the largest fish in the world, they only grow about one centimeter a year. That fact caught Nielson’s attention and he decided to find a way to determine their age. To get the age estimates, Nielsen and his team used a complex system that combines chemical tests, mathematical models and growth measurements. The research also suggested the female Greenland sharks do not mate and have babies until they are about 150 years old. That may not be good news, because the Greenland sharks may not have many young. If too many are caught, the species could die out. The scientists worry that the sharks are being caught up and killed with other species by commercial fisheries. Some animals without backbones can live even longer. A clam, found in waters off Iceland, lived to be 507 years old. And scientists say some sponges are estimated to be more than 2,000 years old. I’m Anne Ball, and I'm Bryan Lynn. Kevin Enochs wrote this story for VOA. Anne Ball wrote it for Learning English with information from the Associated Press. Pete Heinlein was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________   Words in This Story vertebrate – n. animal with a backbone lens – n. the clear part of the eye that focuses light to see images determination – n. finding out or calculating something magnitude – n. the size or importance of something longevity – n. the length of life metabolism – n. the process that a living thing makes food and water into energy

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