The human desire for immortality has long been a millennial human obsession. Humans have dabbled in all kinds of directions, from the mystic dimensions of religion to the science of cryogenics and even the fountain of youth.

Yet, it turns out, the trick to avoiding death may have been sitting in plain sight—or, more precisely, lying under the waves. Meet the Turritopsis dohrnii—the “immortal jellyfish”—who has an incredible capacity to undo its ageing and still not die.

The life cycle of the immortal jellyfish is similar to any other jellyfish, at least in normal circumstances.

It starts as a larva, grows into a polyp (an unspinning, nonmoving object resembling something like a miniature anemone), and then develops into the adult medusa.

However, given environmental stress or injury, this jellyfish returns to a previous phase of its life cycle, turning its adult cells back into polyp (young) cells. Courtesy of the Natural History Museum.

This morphology is referred to as “transdifferentiation” and gives the jellyfish the opportunity to restart its life cycle. By doing so, the jellyfish’s specialised cells convert into more generalised, unspecialised cells that can turn themselves back into new cell types and rebuild the body to its youthful, polyp-like state.

After a jellyfish has become a polyp, its life cycle is essentially restarted. This way, it can develop into a fully grown medusa once again and not die of old age.

Ideally, this back-and-forth and re-growth can occur at any time so that the jellyfish can “evade” natural ageing.

The animal was first described by scientists in 1883, but it would take 100 years for scientists to stumble across its perpetual life cycle while preserving it in captivity.

The jellyfish, first found in the Mediterranean and now found in oceans across the world, is tiny, typically only 4-5 millimeters across, about the size of a pinky nail.

Although immortal in principle, Turritopsis dohrnii is far from unbreakable.

In the wild, it is under pressure, as are all marine animals, from predation, disease, and natural threats. Although it can biologically “start over” forever, many people die before they are able to exploit this gift to extend their lifespan dramatically.

But it’s a phenomenon that’s kept scientists intrigued and eager to discover how it keeps going. Researchers are looking to see if we could learn more about the jellyfish’s molecular dynamics in order to improve anti-ageing, cancer, and regenerative medicine.

For instance, the ability to safely “reprogram” human cells could lead to therapies for healing damaged tissue or even slowing down ageing.

Watch the video below, courtesy of National History Museum

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Georgina Cooper, a British supermodel, died suddenly at the age of 46 on a Greek island two months after her wedding.

The mother of one fell unwell while on Kos with her new husband, Nigel. She was initially transferred to the island’s central hospital, but due to her terrible condition, physicians arranged for an air ambulance to transport her to Crete, which has better facilities.

Staff transported her to intensive care, where she died five days later. Her body was transferred back to England last week.

Her former agent, Dean Goodman, told MailOnline today, Nov. 8, “She loved Greece and told me that she was going back with her new husband—but she tragically died there a fortnight ago.”

“Georgina had become ill during COVID, developed some health issues, and had been in and out of the hospital. However, she had plans for the future. She had recently married and was looking forward to her life. Everyone is devastated. “She was a genuine superstar.”

A modelling agency discovered Georgina at the age of 13, and her first big break came when she appeared in a Bon Jovi music video when she was 15.

She was then branded London’s “original gap-toothed girl” and became one of the faces of the 1990s. She worked with the biggest names in fashion and was featured on the covers of US Vogue and The Face.

Georgina left the catwalk to focus on raising her son, Sonny. She recently worked in hospitality in Kent.

Georgina walked down the aisle near her house in Maidstone, Kent, with a reception at the local pub in early June 2024.

The couple subsequently honeymooned in Kos, where they posted a collection of joyous photos from their wedding on the island’s Facebook page.

However, she had returned to the Greek island at the end of October but had “tragically died” there after suffering from health problems throughout the pandemic, Dean Goodman stated.

Fellow catwalk talents Jade Parfitt, Erin O’Connor, Jodie Kidd, and Helena Christensen have paid tribute, calling her a “ray of light” with “colossal achievements in the industry.”

Jade Parfitt, a friend, and fellow model told MailOnline: “Her friends and family are absolutely devastated; Georgina was a ray of light, a prevalent model who was always laughing and being naughty in all the best ways.” Everyone wanted to spend time with George backstage. Her achievements in the sector were enormous.”

For the first time in nearly two decades, iconic football superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are missing from the Ballon d’Or nominee list.

This is a significant change in football, as the duo has dominated the prestigious award since 2003.

These two titans of the sport have had an ongoing rivalry for the past 17 years, each taking turns to clinch the coveted trophy. However, this year paints a different picture, with both missing from the list of nominees.

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Over this period, Messi and Ronaldo have been a constant feature in the Ballon d’Or nominee list, creating their league. This year, however, new names are emerging, signalling a shift in the football landscape.

The fact that for the first time in 17 years, these two legends are not nominated for the Ballon d’Or indicates the transition happening in football. It’s a changing of the guard, making room for the rise of new talents.

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