These Animals Can (Technically) Live Forever
It’s a fact of life, most living things have to die. Cells break down, bodies age, and eventually, death comes knocking. But what you may not know is that there are a few strange exceptions. Some animals seem to press pause on aging (or totally dodge it). They don’t live forever in the way science fiction movies portray, but biologically, nature has its own version of immortality. Let’s look at some creatures that, in their own wild ways, can technically live forever.
The Immortal Jellyfish
Turritopsis dohrnii is often called the immortal jellyfish, and for good reason. When it's injured or threatened, it doesn't die. Instead, it reverts back to its juvenile form. It's kind of like if a stressed adult could turn back into a toddler and start life over again. This cycle can repeat again and again, theoretically continuing forever. In the wild, they can still be eaten or die from disease, but their biology doesn’t age the way ours does. It’s not the fountain of youth, but it's still pretty mind-blowing.
Hydras
Hydras are tiny freshwater creatures that don’t seem to age, like, at all. Their secret? Stem cells. No seriously! Hydras constantly renew their bodies with fresh cells, keeping them young and functional forever. Scientists have watched them for years and found no signs of typical aging. Of course, they can still die if injured or in bad conditions, but if given the right circumstances, they’ll just keep living. They give a new meaning to the phrase ‘forever young.’ Hydras aren’t flashy, but they might quietly be some of the longest-living creatures on Earth.
Lobsters
Lobsters are the rough-and-tumble type of immortal. They keep growing bigger and more fertile as they age, which is super unusual in the animal world. Their secret is an enzyme called telomerase, which helps protect their DNA during cell division. In humans, telomerase slows down over time, but lobsters never stop producing it. They don’t age in the usual sense, though they do eventually die, mostly from exhaustion or when their shell can’t keep up with their size. Who knew lobsters were so impressive?.
Planarian Flatworms
If you cut a planarian flatworm in half, it doesn’t die. Both halves just grow into new worms. Weird! Some types of flatworms can even regenerate from a single cell. Part of their secret lies in their stem cells, which are incredibly powerful and can become any type of cell they need. Some scientists even think certain planarians avoid aging entirely, meaning they might be able to keep on living and regenerating forever, assuming nothing crushes them first. That’s something straight out of a sci-fi movie!
Rotifers
Bdelloid rotifers are microscopic animals that don’t just resist aging to become immortal. They can survive radiation, extreme droughts, and even the vacuum of space. They’ve done all this for millions of years without having sex or swapping genes the traditional way. Instead, they repair their own DNA after damage, sometimes even borrowing bits from other organisms around them. These creatures aren't cheating death, exactly, they’re just exceptionally good at dodging it.
Glass Sponges
Glass sponges are deep-sea creatures that grow very, very slowly. No seriously, some of them may live for over 10,000 years! They don’t do much, just filter tiny bits of food from the water, but they do it constantly, forever. Glass sponges don’t show typical signs of aging, and their skeletons, made of silica, can last even longer after the sponge itself is gone. If there’s such a thing as a secret to living forever, it might be drifting in the deep sea with these silent, glassy beings.
What We Learn From the Immortals
Most of us won't live for thousands of years, and that's okay. The animals that (technically) live forever remind us that nature works in mysterious ways. Some of them fight aging with powerful enzymes, while others restart their lives like nothing happened, and some just grow incredibly slowly. What’s clear is that immortality isn’t about being perfect or invincible; it’s about resilience, adaptability, and sometimes, just surviving in your own strange way. We can’t live forever, but maybe there’s still something to learn from these immortal marvels.