Off the coast of Japan, Panama, Italy, Spain, and Florida, it is possible to find a special species of jellyfish the size of your pinky nail… if you look closely. The species is known as Turritopsis dohrnii, and scientists who have studied it closely believe it can live forever. How? In a process called transdifferentiation, these jellyfish can transform dying adult cells into new healthy cells, effectively regenerating their entire body and then continuing their lifecycle. Only a handful of scientists study how the jellyfish does this since the species is difficult to capture and keep in a lab. Those who have though, have come to find out that the jellyfish may hold the key in treating a number of neurodegenerative diseases—like Parkinson’s—by replacing lost or damaged neurons in the brain. Crazy, right? If you’re curious to know more about the “immortal” jellyfish, you should definitely check out this video.
Scientists are looking to the “immortal” jellyfish for cure to brain disease
More of Today's Solutions
California canal solar project reduces evaporation and generates power
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Shade from solar panels installed above two California irrigation canals reduced water evaporation by up to 70 percent ...
Read MoreJob instability is pushing people to rethink their lives, not just their resumes
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For years, the go-to response to career difficulty was optimization. If work felt stagnant, or a job wasn’t ...
Read MoreBritain becomes the first G7 nation to end coal power
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Britain became the first G7 country to formally eliminate coal-fired power generation last Monday, when it closed its ...
Read MoreSuper sniffers: how dogs could help detect dangerous bacteria in cystic fibro...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Meet Jodie. She’s a golden Labrador with a nose for science—literally. At first glance, she might seem like ...
Read More
