This real-life creature can stop ageing and live forever

The idea of living forever has fascinated researchers, storytellers, and scientists for centuries. While immortality remains far from human reach, one small marine creature has drawn attention for doing something that sounds almost unreal– it can biologically reset its life and start over. And it’s not just a theory.

Meet Turritopsis dohrnii, a jellyfish that’s surprising the scientific community with its rare ability to reverse ageing and return to a younger form, potentially allowing it to live indefinitely– under the right conditions.

Unlike most species, which age and reach a natural end, Turritopsis dohrnii is able to go back to its earliest life stage when under stress or physical threat, according to a TOI report. This jellyfish doesn’t follow the usual birth-to-death timeline. Instead, it develops into adulthood and, if necessary, transforms back into a polyp– its juvenile form– essentially restarting its biological journey.

The jellyfish’s unique transformation is possible due to a rare process called transdifferentiation, according to a report presented by the Indian Express. In simple terms, it means that its adult cells are capable of changing into entirely new types of cells– including those found in its younger form. This allows it to rebuild itself from scratch, using the same biological materials in a new way.

While its ability to reset gives it a biological edge, it doesn’t make Turritopsis dohrnii invincible. In natural environments, factors like pollution, disease, and predators still pose serious threats. That said, when studied in controlled lab conditions, researchers have observed the jellyfish undergo this reverse development multiple times. So, while it may not be ‘eternal’ in the traditional sense, it certainly stretches the boundaries of what we understand about ageing and longevity.

What makes this jellyfish particularly interesting to scientists isn’t just its age-defying ability but the possibilities it opens up in human medicine. Understanding how its cells reprogram themselves could lead to new insights in regenerative medicine, such as tissue repair, cell therapy, and treatments for age-related diseases.

According to the Natural History Museum, this small jellyfish offers real potential in the study of cell regeneration and the ageing process– two areas that continue to shape the future of medical science.