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. 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

Get the Summary of Nicklas Brendborg's Jellyfish Age Backwards in 20 minutes. Please note: This is a summary & not the original book. "Jellyfish Age Backwards" delves into the fascinating world of biological longevity and aging, exploring the lives of creatures with exceptional lifespans and unique aging processes. The book examines the Greenland shark, known for its centuries-long lifespan, and the bowhead whale, which shares more anatomical similarities with humans. It contrasts these with the short-lived Pacific salmon and the biologically immortal jellyfish Turritopsis...

This stunning debut novel about grief and wonder was an instant New York Times bestseller and captured widespread critical acclaim, including selection as a 2015 National Book Award finalist! After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy must have been a rare jellyfish sting--things don't just happen for no reason. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory--even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy's achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe...and the potential for love and hope right next door. Oddlot Entertainment has acquired the screen rights to The Thing About Jellyfish, with Gigi Pritzker set to produce with Bruna Papandrea and Reese Witherspoon.

"A book full of wonders" —Helen Macdonald, author of H Is for Hawk "Witty, insightful. . . .The story of jellyfish. . . is a significant part of the environmental story. Berwald's engaging account of these delicate, often ignored creatures shows how much they matter to our oceans' future." —New York Times Book Review Jellyfish have been swimming in our oceans for well over half a billion years, longer than any other animal that lives on the planet. They make a venom so toxic it can kill a human in three minutes. Their sting—microscopic spears that pierce with five million times the acceleration of gravity—is the fastest known motion in the animal kingdom. Made of roughly 95 percent water, some jellies are barely perceptible virtuosos of disguise, while others glow with a luminescence that has revolutionized biotechnology. Yet until recently, jellyfish were largely ignored by science, and they remain among the most poorly understood of ocean dwellers. More than a decade ago, Juli Berwald left a career in ocean science to raise a family in landlocked Austin, Texas, but jellyfish drew her back to the sea. Recent, massive blooms of billions of jellyfish have clogged power plants, decimated fisheries, and caused millions of dollars of damage. Driven by questions about how overfishing, coastal development, and climate change were contributing to a jellyfish population explosion, Juli embarked on a scientific odyssey. She traveled the globe to meet the biologists who devote their careers to jellies, hitched rides on Japanese fishing boats to see giant jellyfish in the wild, raised jellyfish in her dining room, and throughout it all marveled at the complexity of these alluring and ominous biological wonders. Gracefully blending personal memoir with crystal-clear distillations of science, Spineless is the story of how Juli learned to navigate and ultimately embrace her ambition, her curiosity, and her passion for the natural world. She discovers that jellyfish science is more than just a quest for answers. It’s a call to realize our collective responsibility for the planet we share.

Dive beneath the waves and explore the amazing world of the jellyfish with this fact-filled book for middle grade readers who can’t get enough about marine animals! Filled with fascinating jellyfish facts, activities, and plenty of jokes, this second book in the Amazing Ocean series is the perfect follow-up to Amazing Octopus. The second title in the Amazing Ocean series is just as mind-blowing, inspiring and full of irreverent fun as the first. Children will learn about the astonishing variety of species, including some extremely dangerous ones, some types with truly amazing abilities, how scientists have been inspired by these mysterious dwellers of the deep in developing new technology, and much more… Along the way there is also plenty of opportunity for entertaining and mind-expanding digressions into other topics, including astrophysics, immortality and ancient mythology. This isn’t just a book to teach children about jellyfish, but one to fill them with wonder and curiosity for the natural world. All this is stunningly illustrated, in b&w and sepia original artwork throughout, packed in a textured self cover hardback with foil areas on the cover. Both text and artwork are also highlighted with colored ink to highlight important elenents. Each chapter ends with interactive summaries of the topics addressed, including games and creative exercises, to keep kids engaged and entertained as they learn. These interactive elements are also available as a printable pdf version for those that prefer to keep their copy pristine.

Discusses why the jellyfish population has exploded in recent years and why their dominance is indicative of a declining ocean ecosystem.

Describes the general characteristics and functions of a variety of jellyfish with emphasis on the ones to avoid.