Scientists have made an exciting discovery that could unlock new ways to slow down the aging process—and it all starts with a tiny, colorful insect called the jewel wasp.
Known for its shimmering metallic appearance, the jewel wasp, or Nasonia vitripennis, is giving researchers clues about how aging can be slowed at the molecular level.
A team from the University of Leicester has found that these wasps can press a kind of natural “pause button” during early development, and this pause leads to surprising benefits later in life.
The study, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that this early-life break not only extends the wasp’s lifespan by over a third but also slows the pace of aging inside their cells.
Aging, researchers explain, isn’t just about getting older in years.
It’s also a biological process that can be tracked by looking at tiny chemical changes in DNA, called methylation.
These changes build up over time, forming what scientists call the “epigenetic clock”—a kind of biological timer that marks how quickly we age. Slowing down this clock could mean slowing down aging itself.
To explore this idea, the researchers created a hibernation-like state called diapause in baby jewel wasps by exposing their mothers to cold and darkness. This triggered the offspring to delay their development before becoming adults.
The result?
The adult wasps lived much longer and showed a 29% slower rate of molecular aging compared to those that didn’t go through this pause.
What’s especially remarkable is that these benefits continued even after the wasps resumed normal development.
The pause early in life led to long-term effects, including changes in important biological systems that control how the body senses nutrients and insulin—systems that are already known to be linked to aging in humans.
Professor Eamonn Mallon, senior author of the study, said it’s as if the wasps that took a break during development ended up with “extra time in the bank.” He explained that this discovery shows aging isn’t fixed and can be influenced by the environment, even before adulthood begins.
The jewel wasp is a perfect model for this kind of study. Unlike many insects, it shares some key genetic features with humans, including a working DNA methylation system.
It also has a short lifespan, making it easier to observe changes over time.
This study doesn’t just reveal a fascinating trait in an insect—it opens the door to a deeper understanding of aging itself.
It raises the possibility that, one day, we might be able to develop ways to slow aging in humans by targeting the molecular pathways that shape how we age from the very beginning of life.
If you care about wellness, please read studies about how ultra-processed foods and red meat influence your longevity, and why seafood may boost healthy aging.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the power of pickle juice ,and time-restricted eating: a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
