A 194-year-old tortoise may hold the keys to better aging in humans.

Nearly two centuries of life have transformed its history into an unexpected opportunity for science.

Jonathan was born in a vanished world and has outlived generations. Today, at approximately 194 years old, this giant tortoise could help scientists better understand one of life's greatest mysteries:

How to age better

Jonathan lives on Saint Helena, a remote British island in the South Atlantic, where he arrived as an adult. To study his body, researchers analyzed saliva samples and found that some of his genes had remained remarkably stable. These include genes linked to blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and protection against cancer—processes essential to human health.*

Another discovery caught the team's attention: certain genes linked to mitochondria, the cellular structures responsible for energy production, showed similarities between Jonathan and a five-year-old tortoise. The scientists are investigating whether this characteristic could contribute to his longevity, although they cannot yet definitively say that it explains his extraordinary lifespan.

This study, published in Science Advances, does not claim to find a formula to stop aging. Rather, it aims to understand what allows certain organisms to maintain their biological functions longer and how these discoveries could help us better take care of our health as we age.

There's just one small problem.

The research has its limitations. Authorities on Saint Helena have not authorized blood sampling due to concerns about infection. The team hopes to continue collecting samples as long as Jonathan is alive, as every opportunity could shed further light on the still unknown aspects of his remarkable biology.