“Turritopsis is unique, because when faced with unfavourable conditions – and I mean high temperature, physical cutting, starvation, chemicals in the water, you name it – when you try to kill the jellyfish, it doesn’t die.” The process is called “cellular transdifferentiation”, Miglietta says. View image in fullscreen The Turritopsis dohrnii starts its life cycle again in a process known as ‘cellular transdifferentiation’. With their delicate bodies and veil of tentacles, Dr Lisa-ann Gershwin, a biologist specialising in jellyfish, describes Turritopsis as “exquisite” and “the most beautiful little creature”. Since ancient times, humans have speculated about eternal life, she says, it’s one of the things that unites us all.