10 Animals That Can Live for Over 100 Years

2. The Immortal Jellyfish: Nature’s Reset Button

In the ocean depths, a seemingly unassuming creature defies the very concept of aging. The Turritopsis dohrnii, commonly known as the immortal jellyfish, has the extraordinary ability to revert its cells to a younger state, effectively resetting its life cycle. This process, known as transdifferentiation, allows the jellyfish to transform its mature cells into immature ones, starting its life anew. While not all individuals undergo this transformation, those that do can theoretically live indefinitely, making them a subject of intense scientific interest. The biological mechanisms behind this process are still being unraveled, but they hold significant promise for understanding cellular regeneration and aging. The immortal jellyfish’s lifecycle begins as a larva, which develops into a polyp and eventually into a mature medusa. When faced with environmental stress or physical damage, it can revert back to the polyp stage, bypassing death altogether. This remarkable ability raises questions about the potential for similar regenerative processes in other organisms, including humans. The immortal jellyfish challenges our understanding of life and death, offering a glimpse into the possibilities of biological immortality.