Scientists have discovered that jewel wasps can slow down their biological rate of aging. Their study of jewel wasps, known for their distinctive metallic colors, has shown that they can undergo a kind of natural "time-out" as larvae before emerging into adulthood with this surprising advantage.

The research by scientists at the University of Leicester has now been published in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It reveals that this pause in development within the wasp dramatically extends lifespan and decelerates the ticking of the so-called "epigenetic clock" that marks molecular aging.

Aging isn't just about counting birthdays, it's also a biological process that leaves molecular fingerprints on our DNA. One of the most accurate markers of this process is the epigenetic clock, which tracks chemical changes in DNA, known as methylation, that accumulate with age. But what happens if we alter the course of development itself?

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