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This whale lives for centuries: its secret could help extend human lifespan

A cold-activated protein that mends damaged DNA could play a part in keeping the bowhead whale in tip-top shape.
By
  1. Heidi Ledford

    1. Heidi Ledford reports for Nature from Seattle, Washington.

Encased in a blanket of blubber that is nearly half a metre thick, and with a habit of smashing head first through Arctic ice, the 80,000-kilogram bowhead whale does not, at first glance, seem a natural poster child for health and longevity.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03511-9

Additional reporting by Nick Petrić Howe.

Listen to the related podcast, ‘Bowhead whales can live for more than 200 years —this protein might be why’

References

  1. Firsanov, D. et al. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09694-5 (2025).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Chen, Y. et al. Science 390, eadp5056 (2025).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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