Immortality is such an intriguing notion: Living Forever and Ever and Ever. It's a characteristic you'll find in many myths and legends, whether a mythological god/goddess, vampire, faerie or other creature who never dies. It's a theme that shows up in a plethora of literature, whether ancient, like the Epic of Gilgamesh, or modern, like Alyson Noel's best selling YA series, The Immortals.
It's also something that a certain animal has accomplished, a creature we can see with our own eyes and is the subject of many excited scientists' studies. Meet Turritopsis nutricula, an amazing little (5 mm) jellyfish. It hails from the Caribbean but scientists predict it will someday inhabit every ocean. What's so fascinating about this little guy is while most jellyfish die after propagating, Turritopsis nutricula goes back to a polyp stage.
So it grows to maturation, propagates, and then turns back into a juvenile! This isn't to say that they never die; but they don't need to die and therefore have the potential to be immortal.
So it grows to maturation, propagates, and then turns back into a juvenile! This isn't to say that they never die; but they don't need to die and therefore have the potential to be immortal.
Cool, huh? Until they take over the world, that is! :)
Have you made or stumbled upon a recent scientific discovery that many of us might not know about? If so, please share!
8 Comments on Immortal? You Betcha!, last added: 2/3/2010
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I'm all for immortality! The one thing I don't get in books is when there is just a huge drama about whether then love interest of an immortal should/wants to become immortal, too. I mean, what's to think about? Neverending life with a supernatural hottie. And if he turns bad or boring you can always find (or make) another. Where's the downside?
For my YA novel, a character's mom is a nanotechnology specialist. I elaborate on the research (of course), but it's based on the reality that nanotechnology will - within the decade - lead to bone regrowth after removing tumors, antibiotics that work in minutes rather than days, much more!
Erica
I hear you, Tera!
Exciting stuff, Erica! Sounds like a cool book and I just can't believe how far medical technology has come and is possibly going to go even in our lifetime.
While I agree immortality is fascinating, I find I can't get enough about learning about man's beginnings...so when there's breaking news about new fossils from early man--especially those that challenge what we currently believe as truths--I am all over it!
Thanks for the shout-out!! And you know, even though I write about Immortality, I wouldn't chose it for myself--it seems a little lonely (so many good byes!) and exhausting too!
:)
Yeah, I'm with Alyson. Immortality sounds boring and long....
Heather
I'm in the same school as Alyson and Heather...immortality might sound cool, but it's really kinda tragic..!
That is amazing!