homehome Home chatchat Notifications


The world's oldest person (and only one still born in the 1800s) celebrates 117th birthday

When Emma Morano was born, Umberto I was still reigning over Italy.

Mihai Andrei
November 29, 2016 @ 7:49 pm

share Share

When Emma Morano was born, Umberto I was still ruling Italy, Spain was just ending its reign over Cuba and in a tragic accident in London, Edwin Sewell became the world’s first driver of a petrol-driven vehicle to be killed in a road accident.

When Emma Morano was born, this is what Michigan’s football team looked like. Image via Wiki Commons.

It’s always impressive how people who over 110 still maintain their clarity. Supercentenarians seem to be in a league of their own, without any major health issues well into old age, maintaining an enviable lucidity and springiness to themselves. Today, Emma Morano, the oldest person in the world, celebrates her 117th birthday, looking back on a life which has spanned across three centuries. While she has not left her two room apartment in almost two decades, she still gives interviews from time to time and enjoys talking to other people, telling them about her life.

We don’t really know why some people live to such advanced ages. You’d think there should be some combination of genetic fortitude and a healthy, peaceful lifestyle. But Emma Morano’s life has been anything but peaceful.

“My life wasn’t so nice,” she told Reuters TV as she sat in an armchair by her window, a white shawl over her shoulders.

She did love a man, but lost him to World War I. After that, She went through an abusive marriage, born of blackmail and threats – not love.

“He told me: ‘If you’re lucky you marry me, or I’ll kill you’. I was 26 years old. I got married. “

This was just the beginning of a troublesome time. Heartbroken after her child perished at only 6 months, she went on to live the rest of her life alone, even working until she was 75. In terms of health, she wasn’t really doing that well either. Her nutrition was highly unorthodox and she wasn’t eating many fruits and veggies – instead, she ate 2 raw eggs a day for 90 years.

“When I first knew her she used to eat three eggs a day. Two raw, and one fried. Today she has slowed down a bit, reducing the number to two some days because she says three can be too much,” her doctor Carlo Bava told Reuters TV. “She has never eaten much fruit or vegetables. Her characteristic is that she always eats the same thing, every day, every week, every month and every year.”

She took up this eating style after the doctor diagnosed her with anaemia shortly after World War One.

A victim of domestic violence and with an overall tragic life, Emma Morano still puzzles doctors. As far as official data goes, she is the last person to be born in the 1800s and at least in terms of modern history, she can easily say she’s seen it all.

share Share

Ronan the Sea Lion Can Keep a Beat Better Than You Can — and She Might Just Change What We Know About Music and the Brain

A rescued sea lion is shaking up what scientists thought they knew about rhythm and the brain

Did the Ancient Egyptians Paint the Milky Way on Their Coffins?

Tomb art suggests the sky goddess Nut from ancient Egypt might reveal the oldest depiction of our galaxy.

Dinosaurs Were Doing Just Fine Before the Asteroid Hit

New research overturns the idea that dinosaurs were already dying out before the asteroid hit.

Denmark could become the first country to ban deepfakes

Denmark hopes to pass a law prohibiting publishing deepfakes without the subject's consent.

Archaeologists find 2,000-year-old Roman military sandals in Germany with nails for traction

To march legionaries across the vast Roman Empire, solid footwear was required.

Mexico Will Give U.S. More Water to Avert More Tariffs

Droughts due to climate change are making Mexico increasingly water indebted to the USA.

Chinese Student Got Rescued from Mount Fuji—Then Went Back for His Phone and Needed Saving Again

A student was saved two times in four days after ignoring warnings to stay off Mount Fuji.

The perfect pub crawl: mathematicians solve most efficient way to visit all 81,998 bars in South Korea

This is the longest pub crawl ever solved by scientists.

This Film Shaped Like Shark Skin Makes Planes More Aerodynamic and Saves Billions in Fuel

Mimicking shark skin may help aviation shed fuel—and carbon

China Just Made the World's Fastest Transistor and It Is Not Made of Silicon

The new transistor runs 40% faster and uses less power.