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Unusual Animals

This jellyfish can live forever by rewinding its life

The immortal jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii can technically live forever.

Reviewed by the CurioVault curator · 8 October 2026 · Editorial standards

This jellyfish can live forever by rewinding its life — AI illustration
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The immortal jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii can technically live forever. When injured, sick, or old, it reverts its cells back to childhood polyp stage through transdifferentiation, essentially rewinding its life cycle. The polyp then grows into an adult again. It can do this indefinitely. It is only 4.5mm wide, found in the Mediterranean and Japanese waters, and now spreading in ship ballast. It is not truly immortal because it can still be eaten or diseased, but it has no programmed death. Biology found a reset button.

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#jellyfish#immortaljellyfish#animals#sciencefacts#ocean

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