Nicklas Brendborg

Humans have long sought the fountain of youth, but it was usually more philosophical than practical. Recent advances in medicine and technology have expanded the science of human aging, even though compared to life as a whole, we are embarrassingly outmatched. Despite modern humans living longer today than ever before, our understanding of what is possible is limited to our species--until now. In this spunky, effervescent debut, the immortality key is revealed to be a superpower already present on earth. With mind-bending stories from the natural world, Jellyfish Age Backwards reveals lifespans we cannot imagine and physiological gifts that feel closer to magic than reality. For example: There is a Greenland shark that was 286 years old when the Titanic sank, and is currently 390, making it older than the United States. Scientists predict it will live for another 100 years. Trees and lobsters don't "age" in the way we know it. They simply get bigger and bigger. If they die, it's almost always by accident. Radiation, which is deadly to humans, has been known to actually increase the lifespans of certain species, from turtles to naked mole-rats. There's a species of jellyfish, the size of a fingernail, that can revert back to its polyp stage when threatened and, remarkably, "age again." Mixing cutting-edge research and stories from habitats all around the world, molecular biologist Nicklas Brendborg explores what nature has to teach us about aging. Along the way, we meet lobsters who are virtually ageless; redwoods that survive thousands of years; and in the soil of Easter Island, the key to eternal youth. Jellyfish Age Backwards is a love letter to the immense power of nature, and what the immortal lives of many of earth's animals and plants can teach us about the secret to longevity.

Nature's Secrets to Longevity

Jellyfish Age Backwards

Gopler ældes baglæns

A New York Times Editor's Choice Pick A Sunday Times (UK) Best Book of the Year • This eye-opening book offers a "clear and captivating" (Dr. Kris Verburgh​) scientific deep dive into how plants and animals have already unlocked the secrets to immortality–and the lessons they hold for us all. Recent advances in medicine and technology have expanded our understanding of aging across the animal kingdom, and our own timeless quest for the fountain of youth. Yet, despite modern humans living longer today than ever before, the public’s understanding of what is possible is limited to our species—until now. In this spunky, effervescent debut, the key to immortality is revealed to be a superpower within reach. With mind-bending stories from the natural world and our own, Jellyfish Age Backwards reveals lifespans we cannot imagine and physiological gifts that feel closer to magic than reality: There is a Greenland shark that was 286 years old when the Titanic sank, and is currently 390, making it older than the United States. Scientists predict it will live for another 100 years. Trees and lobsters don’t “age” in the way we know it. They simply get bigger and bigger. There are forms of radiation that have been known to actually increase the lifespans of certain species, from tortoises to naked mole-rats. There's a species of jellyfish, the size of a fingernail, that can age forwards, then, when threatened, age backwards and begin the process all over again. Mixing cutting-edge research and stories from habitats all around the world, molecular biologist Nicklas Brendborg explores extended life cycles in all its varieties. Along the way, we meet a man who fasted for over a year; a woman who edited her own DNA; redwoods that survive thousands of years; and in the soil of Easter Island, the key to eternal youth. Jellyfish Age Backwards is a love letter to the immense power of nature, and what the immortal lives of many of earth's animals and plants can teach us about the secrets to longevity.

Verglichen mit anderen Erdbewohnern dauert ein Menschenleben nur einen Wimpernschlag: Kalifornische Redwoods können fünftausend Jahre alt werden, einige Quallenarten kehren ihren Alterungsprozess um und manche Bakterien sind sogar unsterblich. Molekularbiologe Nicklas Brendborg nimmt die Leser:innen mit in die entlegensten Winkel der Welt und die modernsten Forschungslabors; unterwegs zu den ältesten Menschen, zu Zombiezellen und zu Experimenten, die unsere grundlegenden Vorstellungen vom Leben auf den Kopf stellen. Dabei geht Brendborg einer zentralen Frage der Menschheit nach: Wie kann ein langes und gesundes Leben gelingen? In der Wahl zum Wissensbuch des Jahres 2022 hat die Zeitschrift bild der wissenschaft sechs Bücher ausgezeichnet, die über Wissenschaft und Forschung kompetent, verständlich und spannend berichten. In der Kategorie Überraschung belegt Nicklas Brendborgs Buch »Quallen altern rückwärt« den ersten Platz. Aus der Jurybegründung: »Mit Sprachwitz, großer Erzähllust und auf amüsante Weise beschreibt er, was wir von der Natur über ein langes Leben lernen können.«

Was wir von der Natur über ein langes Leben lernen können

Quallen altern rückwärts

I Maneter åldras baklänges Hur vetenskapen kan förlänga vårt liv berättar Nicklas Brendborg en fantastisk historia om vetenskapens kamp mot åldrandet och vad vi själva kan göra för att leva längre. Vi förflyttas mellan spektakulära, högteknologiska experiment och havsdjupets mysterier.

Maneter åldras baklänges

~~A TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2022~~ 'In a field characterised by overclaiming and wishful thinking, it is judicious, sensible and refreshingly clear. And fascinating.' The Sunday Times 'A hugely enjoyable slice of popular science, full of memorable facts and sound advice.' Daily Mail 'Brendborg takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the science of ageing... he navigates this bustling discipline with graceful clarity, dispelling common myths along the way.' New Scientist A deep-dive into the astonishing nature and true science of longevity Molecular Biologist Nicklas Brendborg takes us on a journey from the farthest reaches of the globe to the most cutting-edge research to explore everything the natural world and science have to offer on the mystery of aging. From the centuries-old Greenland shark and backwards-aging jellyfish to the man who fasted for a year and the woman who successfully edited her own DNA, this book follows the thread of every experiment, story, and myth in the search for immortality. With mind-bending discoveries and physiological gifts that feel closer to magic than reality, Jellyfish Age Backwards will reshape everything you thought you knew about aging - and offer nature's secrets to unlocking your own longevity.

Humanity has always been obsessed with the concept of immortality and the secrets to longevity have largely remained a mystery - until scientists begun looking to nature for answers. Molecular Biologist Nicklas Brendborg takes us on a journey from farthest reaches of the globe to the most cutting-edge research as he explores what nature has to teach us about aging. We meet jellyfish who display reverse aging; the Greenland shark who is older than America; naked mole-rats and lobsters who are virtually ageless; redwoods that survive thousands of years; and in the soil of Easter Island, the key to eternal youth. The natural world, with all its wonder and mysteries may hold the answers to all of our questions, and it's been under our noses the whole time.

Nicklas Brendborg

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