This Jellyfish Can Live Forever by Reverting

A small, thimble-shaped jellyfish, Turritopsis dohrnii, has demonstrated an extraordinary capacity for biological immortality. Unlike most marine creatures, this unique species does not succumb to aging or unfavorable environmental changes. Instead, when faced with threats such as high temperatures, physical damage, starvation, or pollutants, it undergoes a process called cellular transdifferentiation.

This biological phenomenon involves the jellyfish reverting to a juvenile polyp stage. The transformation, which occurs within 24 to 48 hours, results in a new polyp with an identical genome. This ability allows the jellyfish to theoretically bypass its natural life cycle and avoid death from old age.

While these jellyfish can theoretically live forever in controlled environments, their survival in the wild is still contingent on avoiding predation. Eight species of Turritopsis exist globally, but only this one has mastered the secret to eternal life. They are found in various marine environments worldwide, from the Mediterranean Sea to the coasts of Japan, Panama, and Brazil.