NPR recently did a report on Naked Mole Rats: Naked And Unafraid: 6 Wild Facts About Naked Mole Rats
Naked mole rats don’t look like they’d be one of nature’s superstars. They’re about the size and shape of small sweet potatoes. These rodents are native to the grasslands of East Africa, and are mostly hairless, wrinkled, and blind. And yet, they’ve evolved some special behaviors and features that help them thrive in harsh environments in which other mammals (humans included) would wither.
When they were new to science, in the 1970’s, researchers studied them for their unusual behavior and social structure. In the past two decades or so, scientists have been looking into their super survival traits — long life spans and apparent lack of aging — for lessons on how humans can stay healthy and live longer.
Read story at What Can Naked Mole Rats Teach Researchers About Longevity And Resilience? : Shots – Health News : NPR
Natural History Wanderings 
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