Overview
- The study, which published May 27, 2026, reports amputated tissue from the cold‑water sea cucumber Psolus fabricii remained viable and active in flowing natural seawater for more than three years.
- Researchers observed wound closure, tissue reorganization, ongoing cell division, immune responses and uptake of dissolved amino acids from seawater that appear to sustain the explants without a mouth or gut.
- The detached fragments did not grow into whole new sea cucumbers, instead entering a long‑lived, self‑maintaining state the authors call LiPfe (living immortal P. fabricii explants).
- Comparative tests showed related sea cucumber species’ explants died within months, indicating the phenomenon is species specific and not a general feature of echinoderms.
- Authors and outside experts urge molecular aging tests such as telomere assays and mechanistic studies before calling the tissues truly immortal, while noting potential uses for accessible tissue and regeneration research if the findings hold up.