Science.News
Jan 18, 2026
Scientists discover a hidden switch to longevity
Researchers have discovered a surprising connection between environmental perception and lifespan in roundworms. The study shows that even simple sensory stimuli such as touch can deactivate a central longevity gene — a gene that normally extends lifespan under calorie restriction conditions.
Source
“Metabolic regulation of behavior by the intestinal enzyme FMO-2” by Elizabeth S. Kitto, Safa Beydoun, Ella Henry, Megan L. Schaller, Mira Bhandari, Sarah A. Easow, Angela M. Tuckowski, Marshall B. Howington, Ajay Bhat, Aditya Sridhar, Eugene Chung, Charles R. Evans and Scott F. Leiser, 24 October 2025, Science Advances. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adx3018
