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21 October 2026

In nematodes, a metabolite induced by the cold links low temperatures to a body-wide signal that promotes longevity. This signalling system is also seen in human cells.

By

Hanseul Lee Hanseul Lee is in the Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, South Korea.

Seung-Jae V. Lee Seung-Jae V. Lee is in the Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, South Korea.

Temperature is a crucial factor that affects ageing and lifespan. For instance, a moderately low ambient temperature or a lowered core body temperature can extend lifespan in various organisms, from nematode worms to mice 1 . Writing in Nature , Lee et al . 2 identify a metabolic switch that activates a longevity program in response to moderately low temperature.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-03066-3

References

Conti, B. & de Cabo, R.…