The Immortal Hydra That Never Ages

The brown hydra is biologically immortal. Unlike humans, its cells constantly renew themselves, allowing the creature to bypass the aging process entirely and survive indefinitely.

This simple freshwater organism lives in ponds and avoids death by utilizing stem cells that are always dividing. Because these cells are constantly replaced, a hydra does not suffer from the typical decay of old age. If you were to cut one into pieces, each fragment could potentially regenerate into a whole new, fully functional individual. Scientists study these creatures to uncover the secrets of human longevity and tissue repair.