People collect tissue samples from a dead Greenland whale on snow with a boat nearby
Researchers collecting a tissue sample from a Greenland shark.
  • Greenland sharks can live up to 400 years, making them the longest-lived fish.
  • Researchers are studying these sharks to uncover the secrets of their long lifespans.
  • Understanding Greenland sharks' longevity may improve human health and aging research.

Abigail Adams, wife of the second US president, was born in 1744. It's entirely possible that there are Greenland sharks still living today that were swimming in the North Atlantic Ocean at the time.