Sir David Attenborough Just Turned 99, And He's Older Than All These Things

John Summers • Contributor

May 10, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

Let's take a moment to wish a very happy birthday to the man whose voice has narrated the entirety of the natural world and a good chunk of our emotional development: Sir David Attenborough, who celebrated his 99th birthday on May 8, 2025 .

Ninety. Nine.

That's nearly a century of life dedicated to exploring this planet, protecting its ecosystems, and quietly shaming us all into being better humans—while doing it with the calm, grandfatherly cadence of a man who once shook hands with a gorilla and still made it feel formal. Attenborough has been bringing the wonders of the animal kingdom into our homes since before many of us even had color TVs. He's seen more of Earth than most people even dream of, and he's done more for environmental awareness than a thousand climate change think pieces combined.

So in celebration of his legendary life, we thought we'd honor him the Geek Universe way—by getting weird with it. Because as it turns out, Sir David is older than some things that feel like they should've always existed. Things so baked into our modern lives, you assume they must've been around before humans had kneecaps.

Here are 10 things David Attenborough is older than. Prepare to have your timeline scrambled.

01
Penicillin

via Thomas Faull

Discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, penicillin wasn't mass-produced until the 1940s . David was already in secondary school when we figured out mold could cure disease. Until then, you got a paper cut and hoped for the best.
02
The Word “Teenager”

via corelens

The term "teenager" wasn't widely used until the 1940s . Which means David was a teen before being a teen was a thing. He experienced adolescence without a label—and still turned out iconic.
03
The United Nations

via Entienou

The UN was founded in 1945, meaning global diplomacy as we know it is younger than Sir David. He predates the official start of international peacekeeping. No big deal.
04
The Bikini

via Pixelshot

Invented in 1946 by French designer Louis Réard, the bikini caused a scandal, revolutionized swimwear, and inspired countless beach montages . But David? He was already in his twenties when the world saw its first midriff.
05
Credit Cards

via Visual Content

The first universal credit card, Diners Club, was introduced in 1950 . Before that, buying something you couldn't afford involved a handshake, a ledger, and probably someone named Harold. Attenborough existed before consumer debt went plastic.
06
The Ballpoint Pen

via Anneleven

While the first patent for a ballpoint pen was filed in 1888, it wasn't until 1938 that László Bíró patented the modern version . So yes, David Attenborough grew up in a time when writing required a bit more… ceremony.
07
McDonald's

via Africa Images

The first McDonald's restaurant opened in 1940 in San Bernardino, California . Attenborough was already a teenager when the Golden Arches rose from the fryer oil. He's older than fast food culture. That's how long he's been marinating.
08
Duct Tape

via Suslik83

Invented in 1942 during World War II to keep ammunition cases dry, duct tape didn't exist during Attenborough's early years . That means he lived in a world where nothing could be fixed by wrapping it in aggressive gray optimism.
09
LEGO

via Pixbay

The classic LEGO brick was patented in 1958 . Attenborough had already been working at the BBC for years before anyone clicked two plastic bricks together and screamed in Danish joy.
10
Soda in a Can

via Africa Images

Canned soda? Not a thing until 1938, when the first canned soft drink was released by Cliquot Club . David was sipping his beverages from glass bottles—or whatever majestic natural spring he happened to be narrating at the time.
So here's to Sir David Attenborough:
A living legend. A planetary treasure. And, as it turns out, older than duct tape, bikinis, and every Happy Meal ever made. Long may he continue to teach us about this weird and wonderful world.