<Li> The larvae of skin beetles undergo a degree of "reversed development" when starved, and later grow back to the previously attained level of maturity . The cycle can be repeated many times . </Li> <Ul> <Li> Various claims have been made about reviving bacterial spores to active metabolism after millions of years . Claims have been made of spores from amber being revived after 40 million years, and spores from salt deposits in New Mexico being revived after 240 million years, the longest living organisms in history . In a related find, a scientist was able to coax 34,000 - year - old salt - captured bacteria to reproduce . His results were duplicated at a separate independent laboratory facility . </Li> <Li> A seed from the previously extinct Judean date palm was revived and managed to sprout after nearly 2,000 years . </Li> <Li> Silene stenophylla was grown from fruit found in an ancient squirrel's cache . The germinated plants bore viable seeds . The fruit was dated to be 31,800 years old ± 300 years . </Li> <Li> In 1994, a seed from a sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), dated at roughly 1,300 years old ± 270 years, was successfully germinated . </Li> <Li> During the 1990s, Raul Cano, a microbiologist at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, revived yeast trapped in amber for 25 million years . Cano went on to found a brewery and crafted an "amber ale" with a 45 - million - year - old variant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Cano's work and initial success were achieved with the help of entomologist George Poinar, the scientist whose 1982 paper on reviving specimens influenced Michael Crichton to write his award - winning Jurassic Park . </Li> </Ul> <Li> Various claims have been made about reviving bacterial spores to active metabolism after millions of years . Claims have been made of spores from amber being revived after 40 million years, and spores from salt deposits in New Mexico being revived after 240 million years, the longest living organisms in history . In a related find, a scientist was able to coax 34,000 - year - old salt - captured bacteria to reproduce . His results were duplicated at a separate independent laboratory facility . </Li> <Li> A seed from the previously extinct Judean date palm was revived and managed to sprout after nearly 2,000 years . </Li>

What's the oldest living thing on planet earth