The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is well-known for its impressive lifespan. All that time also means that these fish are not in a huge rush to birth the next generation of Greenland sharks. For decades, many scientists also assumed this was the case for the Greenland shark. For example, discovering how a Greenland shark maintains its healthy ocular cells and tissues for centuries may help develop therapies for diseases including glaucoma and macular degeneration that often develop later in life. Despite the uncertainties, Skowronska-Krawczyk said that, like the Greenland shark, it’s important to see the bigger picture and outlast day-to-day threats.