• Jellyfish Age Backwards

  • Nature's Secrets to Longevity
  • By: Nicklas Brendborg
  • Narrated by: Joe Leat
  • Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (123 ratings)

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Jellyfish Age Backwards  By  cover art

Jellyfish Age Backwards

By: Nicklas Brendborg
Narrated by: Joe Leat
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Publisher's summary

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.

©2023 Nicklas Brendborg (P)2023 Little, Brown & Company

Critic reviews

Shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize

A New York Times Editor's Choice Pick

A Sunday Times (UK) Best Book of the Year

What listeners say about Jellyfish Age Backwards

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Great Read to Repeat

The author draws together a lot of useful as well as interesting information among all living creatures that point to potential understanding of aging in humans. I will be recommending this to others as well as re-reading myself.

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Terrific book

How entertaining! So much to know expertly presented in a light hearted often funny way. Worth the listen

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Very Engaging

I found this book to be both interesting and fun. The author is very gifted at describing incredible scientific facts.

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learned a lot

this book covered a lot of material in an easy to understand but scientific manor. well spoken

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Very good

Starts out really good with many engaging facts and then transitions into some interesting science. I wanted more from the ending, a call to action or where the future may take us; just a little more of something. Overall very good.

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Worthwhile listen

The information is very accessible for lay people. And though it’s easy to understand, it is well-presented, without repetition or redundancy. Lots of interesting information about the aging process, including a handful of practical tips. The narrator is excellent!!

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Concise, interesting, and accessible for non-scientists

Great explanation of aging science. Both interesting science, and also practical advice. And funny! Best in the aging genre for non-scientists.

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Uniquely interesting and informative.

This is a brilliant work that is well presented and will keep you listening until the end. I enjoyed it and learned a lot.

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Like a Documentary on Aging

This book contained a plethora of interesting and fascinating facts about the aging processes of different species. Highly recommend.

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Fascinating and well told

Many facets of aging told in interesting ways. Initially I was skeptical I would like this, but I enjoyed it and listened much of it twice. Good one!

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