Ageing

The women of ancient Greece counted their ages from the date they were married as for females, life only began from their wedding day.

South Korea has a different age system. Koreans are one when they are born and all get one year older every New Year's Day.

American biochemists Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discovered the radioactive isotope carbon-14 in 1940. It is extensively used today as the basis of the radiocarbon dating method to date archaeological, geological, and hydrogeological samples.

You live your billionth second when you are 31 years old.

People with positive initials like A.C.E., J.O.Y., or H.U.G. live 3 to 4.5 years longer than average.

The German chancellor Konrad Adenauer was in his late eighties and for many years been receiving cell therapy injections in attempt to try to fight off old age. On one occasion he succumbed to a heavy cold. His personal physician became irritated with the chancellor’s impatience at curing him, "I’m no magician," he protested, "I can’t make you young again." Adenauer replied, "I haven’t asked you to, all I want to do is carry on getting older."

Jeanne Calment (February 21, 1875 – August 4, 1997) had the longest confirmed age span in history, living to the age of 122 years, 164 days. She lived in Arles, France for her entire life, and outlived both her daughter and grandson.

At age 90, Jeanne Calment signed a deal to give her apartment to a buyer after her death in exchange for monthly payments. Calment outlived her buyer, whose heirs kept paying. 

Calment celebrating her 121st birthday in 1996. Wikipedia Commons

Jiroemon Kimura was born on April 19, 1897, in the village of Kamiukawa in Japan. He lived for 116 years and 54 days, making him the oldest verified man in history at the time of his death on June 12, 2013. Kimura worked as a postal worker for most of his life and attributed his longevity to eating small portions of food, taking regular walks, and keeping a positive outlook on life. His life spanned three centuries, and he was survived by five children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

Thanks to advancements in public health and medical science, global life expectancy has increased significantly. In the 20th century, it rose from around 31 years in 1900 to over 66 years by 2000.

You steadily "dry out" as you age. A newborn human baby is 75 percent water, adult men are about 60 percent, adult women 55 percent, and elderly people are roughly half.

Over 50% of the world's population is under 30 years old.

Research shows that babies born in autumn are more likely to live to the age of 100.

Every day, the Queen sends an average 27 messages of congratulations to people across the Commonwealth who have reached 100 years of age.

There are over 50,000 people in the U.S. who are over 100 years old.

Emma Morano was an Italian supercentenarian who was born on November 29, 1899. Prior to her death on April 15, 2017, she was the last living person to have been verified as being born in the 1800s. When asked about the secret of her longevity, she said that she had never used drugs, ate three eggs a day, drank a glass of homemade brandy, and enjoyed a chocolate sometimes, but, above all, she thought positively about the future.

Emma Morano, 30 years old

Japan's Okinawa Island has more than 450 people living above the age of 100 and is known as the healthiest place on Earth.

Over 95% of supercentenarians (people who live to be 110) are women.

Although people live longer on average, the maximum age of humans hasn't increased for several decades. This had led scientists to conclude that no matter how much medicine advances, the natural limit to human life span will remain around 115.

"Old People Smell" is caused by a molecule called 2-nonenal, which is secreted by ageing skin.