Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus), residing in the North Atlantic and Arctic, are remarkable for their potential lifespans of up to 500 years. Research indicates that some individuals may have been born as far back as the 1500s, predating the founding of the United States. A pivotal study published in the journal *Science* in 2016 utilized radiocarbon dating of the sharks' eye lenses to determine their ages, revealing that larger sharks lack the carbon-14 markers from nuclear tests, suggesting they lived before the 1960s. These sharks grow at a slow rate of just one centimeter per year, and their habitat in cold, deep waters contributes to their low metabolic rates, reducing cellular stress and biochemical damage associated with aging. However, their late sexual maturity at around 150 years poses challenges for population recovery, especially amid threats from fishing and environmental changes. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensure the survival of this ancient species, which serves as a living archive of oceanic history and may provide insights into aging and health.