Some want immortality, while others fear eternal life. Luckily (or maybe not), this isn’t a problem humans need to worry about. . Scientists are studying these animals closely to learn the secrets of their longevity and to see if the key to their longevity can be applied to help the human aging process. introduce the animals of
1. Tardigrade
This animal may be the liveliest animal in the world and is arguably the closest to immortality. A tardigrade is a microscopic animal that can be seen with a low-magnification microscope, so even students in the classroom can see it. Other names for tardigrades include water bears or moss piglets. These tiny creatures are found in nearly every type of natural environment, from Antarctica to mountain peaks to rainforests. They are found even in the depths of the ocean. They can withstand the harshest conditions such as extreme temperatures, extreme high or low pressure, starvation, and even radiation exposure.
These organisms live in temperatures ranging from -460°F to 300°F, low oxygen levels at altitudes of 20,000 feet, high pressures at seafloors of -13,000 feet, and even space! You can boil, freeze, or dehydrate tardigrades to bring them back to life.
Tardigrades can disrupt all biological processes in order to survive suboptimal conditions. For example, they can live without food and water for his 30 years. Without this pause, also known as cryptobiosis, most tardigrades live only up to 2.5 years. But if you enter this stagnation several times in your lifetime, you can live for decades.
Experts believe that tardigrades have been on Earth from the Cambrian period to 541 million years ago, but they’re probably still here long after we’re gone.
© Lebendkulturen.de/Shutterstock.com
2. Immortal Jellyfish
The immortal jellyfish, also known as the Benjamin button jellyfish, has an amazing feature that gives it a certain kind of immortality. They technically have an indefinite lifespan due to their ability to regenerate if they are injured, starved, or start dying. They also undergo a regeneration process after breeding. The only way this type of jellyfish really dies is if it is eaten, sickened, or dried out.
When this type of jellyfish is injured, reproduces, or starves, it undergoes a process called transdifferentiation. During this process, the jellyfish reverts to the immature polyp stage and starts its life cycle over. This process has only been observed in captivity, not in the wild. Due to this unique ability, immortal jellyfish have no defined lifespan. In theory, it can really live forever. No one knows how old the oldest immortal jellyfish on earth is.
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3. Deinococcus radiodurans
This is a type of bacteria that does not cause disease. Not only can it withstand high doses of radiation, but it can also die and come back to life, hence the nickname “Lazarus Microbe”. Scientists are studying the mechanisms behind this bacterium’s miraculous regeneration to see if it has uses in extending human life or reducing the effects of certain diseases.
©Credit: TEM of D. radiodurans was acquired in Michael Daly’s lab at Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. http://www.usuhs.mil/pat/deinococcus/index_20.htm, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – Licensed
4. Turtle
Some turtles live to be over 150 years old. A scientist who studied the turtle’s DNA found that the turtle’s genome has adapted to reduce cancer risk, repair DNA and help immunize against disease. These factors help it live naturally into its mid-to-late 100s. He lives in St. Helena, a British Overseas Territory. He was brought to the island from the Seychelles and hatched around 1832!
5. Lobster
Did you know that lobsters can live over 100 years? If you like eating them, don’t worry about eating crustaceans that are 100 years old. Lobsters never stop growing. As adults, they molt about every two years to grow a new shell to accommodate a larger body. The largest lobster ever found was about 4 feet long. The heaviest lobster ever found weighed over 44 pounds.
Experts believe that habitat is the secret to lobsters’ longevity. Lobsters that live in temperate climates have a much shorter lifespan. Those that live in cooler waters, such as American lobsters, can live very long. So lobsters don’t live forever, but they can live for quite some time (longer than most humans!).
©davemhuntphotography/Shutterstock.com
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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Are there immortal animals?
The only animal that comes close to immortality is the immortal jellyfish.
What is the world’s most heartfelt animal?
Tardigrades are the world’s most heartfelt animals.
Where do tardigrades live?
These tiny creatures are found in nearly every type of natural environment, from Antarctica to mountain peaks to rainforests. They are found even in the depths of the ocean.
What can tardigrades survive?
They can withstand the harshest conditions such as extreme temperatures, extreme high or low pressure, starvation, and even radiation exposure.
These organisms live in temperatures ranging from -460°F to 300°F, low oxygen levels at altitudes of 20,000 feet, high pressures at seafloors of -13,000 feet, and even space! You can boil, freeze, or dehydrate tardigrades to bring them back to life.
Why do tardigrades live so long?
Tardigrades are able to disrupt all biological processes in order to survive suboptimal conditions. For example, they can live without food and water for his 30 years. Without this pause, also known as cryptobiosis, most tardigrades live only up to 2.5 years. But if you enter this state of stagnation several times in your lifetime, you can live for decades or more.
How do immortal jellyfish live forever?
When this type of jellyfish is injured, reproduces, or starves, it undergoes a process called transdifferentiation. During this process, the jellyfish reverts to the immature polyp stage and starts its life cycle over. Due to this unique ability, immortal jellyfish have no defined lifespan. In theory, it can really live forever. No one knows how old the oldest immortal jellyfish on earth is.
What is the oldest known turtle on earth?
The oldest known turtle on earth today is a Seychellois giant tortoise named Jonathan. He lives in St. Helena, a British Overseas Territory. He was brought to the island from the Seychelles and hatched around 1832!
How long can a lobster live?
Lobsters can live over 100 years.
What is the largest lobster ever discovered?
The largest lobster ever found was about 4 feet long. The heaviest lobster ever found weighed over 44 pounds.