Every organism on Earth has an expiration date. For humans, it's around 78 years, but some people make it to 100 or beyond. Scientific American editor Katherine Harmon explains how these outliers outlive the rest of us.

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4 Comments

1. 1. ASHIK 02:58 AM 7/29/12

   My great grandma seetha is more than 100 years old.She has a belief that she will die only if she is in her village within boundries of her native village god(hindu).It was difficult to take care of her by her daughter who is also a grandma as she was bed ridden, struggling a lot to lead day to day normal life.So we took her back to her native village to her son.
   Deteriorated genes repair by body extended more than a certain mortal age is undesirable as some close by relatives have to watch them suffer everyday very badly as they will are unable to move their body and because they live like a living dead body.So her daughter(my mother's mother)always wishes her dead than live even longer.
   

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2. 2. jackvandijk 05:05 PM 7/31/12

   Well, I will live until I am 103 years old, then I will leave voluntarily.

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3. 3. Madhu Saxena 01:31 PM 8/1/12

   Emotionally it is a very difficult situation. Although the body may become weak but the emotions are positive and well regulated. Probably this is the reason of longevity.Life always presents such conflicting situations. During youth emotions are mostly insurmountable.

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4. 4. Madhu Saxena 01:31 PM 8/1/12

   Emotionally it is a very difficult situation. Although the body may become weak but the emotions are positive and well regulated. Probably this is the reason of longevity.Life always presents such conflicting situations. During youth emotions are mostly insurmountable.

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