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Sea squirts might not look like much...they're simple, hermaphroditic creatures that barely even have a brain. But they have a particular knack for activating the enzyme telomerase, which protects DNA from degradation. That unexpected talent could help fight human aging. More »
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If you want to live forever, one of the main things stopping you is cancer. Many of the mechanisms that prevent cells from aging also make those cells prone to carcinogenic mutations. But now a research team at the University of Rochester has discovered that small rodents like chinchillas (pictured) manage to live decades without developing cancer. In a paper published today in Aging Cell, biologist Vera Gorbunova explains how the furry, dusty chinchilla may become the unlikely key to humans living for centuries. More »
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Stress runs down the body's immune system, which is why people with high-stress jobs or events in their lives are vulnerable to illness. Now a researcher at UCLA has discovered the link between emotional stress and physical damage — and she's going to develop a pill that will allow you to endure stress without the nasty side-effects. And there may also be one good side-effect: Extreme longevity. More »
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