Three animals with superhuman regeneration abilities, one of which can survive in space!

Recent discoveries by scientists have surprised us, they discovered a super strong animal that can actually survive in space!

Star worms can survive in space for years.

Star worms, scientifically known as Sipuncula , are strange creatures that can survive in space for many years. This animal has an amazing ability to regenerate, making people curious about the wonders of life.

In the space environment, the ability of starworms to regenerate is especially important. (Illustration: Zhihu).

Starworms are tiny creatures, about 1 mm long and grey or transparent in colour. What makes them special is their ability to create new individuals through self-mutilation in a process called secondary reproduction . When threatened by the outside world, starworms will split their bodies into many small pieces, each of which contains complete genetic information and can regenerate into a new individual. This ability to regenerate allows starworms to survive in space for many years, as they keep their populations stable by constantly reproducing.

In the harsh environment of space, the ability of starworms to regenerate is especially important. In space, there are strong radiation and low temperatures, which are difficult for normal organisms to survive. Starworms can not only resist radiation, but also avoid the effects of extreme cold by cutting their own bodies. This makes them a great helper in space exploration and can provide a reliable source of biological resources during long-term space missions.

Star worms can avoid the effects of extreme cold by cutting their own bodies. (Illustration: Zhihu)

The regenerative ability of starworms has also attracted wide attention in the field of scientific research. Scientists are conducting in-depth research on its regeneration mechanism in the hope of revealing the secrets of this amazing biological mechanism. They found that the regenerative ability of starworms cannot be separated from the special structure of their cells. Starworm cells contain many stem cells that can self-renew and differentiate into many types of cells. By controlling the differentiation direction of these stem cells, starworms can regenerate many different types of tissues and organs, achieving overall regeneration.

In addition to its applications in space exploration and scientific research, the regenerative ability of starworms may also have great potential for the development of the medical field. The regenerative ability of the human body is relatively limited, but through in-depth research on the regenerative mechanism of starworms, new methods for wound healing and functional recovery may be found. The regenerative ability of starworms provides us with an important reference model that can inspire the medical community to develop more effective regenerative treatments and bring new hope to the treatment of major diseases.

Starfish, can regrow lost body parts

Starfish are invertebrates that are widely distributed on the seafloor of all the world's oceans. Starfish usually grow in a radial pattern of five or more arms, and they come in a variety of shapes and colors. These arms are covered with thousands of tube feet that help the starfish move along the ocean floor, find food, and escape predators.

 Starfish typically grow in a radial pattern of five or more arms. (Illustration: Zhihu).

What is most remarkable, however, is the starfish's ability to not only repair damaged body tissue, but also regenerate lost body parts. When a part of a starfish is broken or attacked by a predator, the corresponding body tissue immediately begins to regenerate. This regeneration process is carried out by a special group of cells called regenerative cells .

These regenerative cells are found in many different parts of the starfish's body and are capable of differentiating over and over again. After injury, these cells divide rapidly and develop into many different types of tissue to regenerate the lost body part. This process usually takes months or years but will eventually result in a complete starfish body.

Starfish's ability to regenerate doesn't stop at repairing body tissue; they can also reproduce through fission. When starfish reach adulthood, special cracks appear on their bodies, causing them to split into two separate individuals. Each new individual has all the organs and abilities and can live independently. This method of reproduction allows starfish populations to grow rapidly, playing an important role in balancing marine ecosystems.

Starfish can reproduce through fission. (Illustration: Zhihu).

Scientists are making rapid progress in the study of the regenerative ability of starfish, hoping to reveal the mechanism and cellular process of starfish regeneration, thereby providing inspiration for regenerative medicine research in the field of human medicine. The regenerative ability of starfish can help solve the treatment problems of many human diseases and injuries, such as liver regeneration, nerve tissue repair, and amputated limb regeneration, etc.

Lizard, can regenerate a complete tail

Lizards are animals with an amazing ability to regenerate. When in danger, they can amputate their tails and then grow back a new, fully functional tail. This unique trait is fascinating and has attracted the attention of scientists.

The lizard's amazing ability to regenerate its tail stems from its body's ability to adapt and regenerate. When a lizard feels its safety is threatened, it will actively cut off its tail, a process known as "voluntary tail cutting". It seems like it has lost an important part of its body, but within just one month, the lizard can regenerate a complete tail without any deformities or defects.

 When lizards feel their safety is threatened, they will proactively shed their tails. (Illustration: Zhihu).

The mechanism behind how lizards regenerate their tails is fascinating. In fact, lizard tail regeneration involves a number of biologically complex processes.

1. First , when the tail is severed, blood clotting and platelets are produced at the time of the cut. This clotting forms a temporary wound covering to prevent excessive blood loss.
2. Next , the stem cells are activated and they begin to divide and proliferate within the wound. These stem cells quickly differentiate into different types of cells, such as muscle cells, connective tissue cells, and bone cells. These cells continue to divide and grow, eventually forming a new tail.

There are a few notable features behind this process. First , the regenerated tail is often longer than the original tail. Some studies suggest that this may be because the cells inside the new tail divide more rapidly, making it longer. Second , the speed at which lizard tails regenerate is also astonishing. Compared to the regeneration abilities of other animals, lizards regenerate their tails very quickly. Within a month, a lizard can grow a full tail.

The miracle of the lizard's ability to regenerate its tail is not only a biological oddity, but it also has practical applications . Many scientists hope to learn from the lizard's regenerative abilities to develop more effective regenerative therapies. By studying the regeneration process in lizards, scientists hope to discover mechanisms that can promote the regeneration of human tissue. This could help treat a number of chronic diseases and injuries.

In addition to its scientific research applications, the lizard's regenerated tail also has a certain ecological significance. The tail helps the lizard maintain balance and stability. When the lizard loses its tail, the regenerated tail will provide this function for them. This ability helps the lizard adapt better to its environment.

This discovery gives us profound thoughts about regeneration and raises people's expectations for regenerative medicine. We have reason to believe that by further studying animals with super-regenerative abilities, humans can create a future with super-regenerative abilities.