Diane Joy Galos

In a discovery that feels straight out of science fiction, a new mathematical approach suggests that cells, once thought to be beyond saving, could actually be revived. Is this the beginning of cellular immortality? Only the numbers know.


Cellular death, a key concept in biology, lacks a universally accepted mathematical definition despite its significance in various biological processes. 

Researchers from the University of Tokyo are redefining this concept by proposing a new mathematical definition of cell death, based on whether a potentially dead cell can return to a "representative state of living," which are states that can clearly be identified as alive.

This new approach could impact biological and medical research, as understanding cellular death is critical for advancing health-related studies. 

Assistant Professor Yusuke Himeoka, from the Universal Biology Institute, said, “My long-term scientific goal is to understand the inherent difference between life and nonlife, mathematically; why the transition from nonlife to life is so difficult, while the other way around is so easy.”

“Our aim in this project was to develop a mathematical definition and computational method to quantify the life-death boundary,” he added.

Cell death is a critical process in biological systems, with major health implications, making it essential for researchers to clearly define what we mean by cellular death in their studies. 

Understanding this boundary is fundamental to advancing medical science and biological research.

The researchers' definition of cell death is based on the idea that dead states are those from which cells cannot return to a living state, no matter how biochemical processes are modulated. They developed a computational method called “stoichiometric rays” to measure this boundary.

This method, which focuses on enzymatic reactions and the second law of thermodynamics, could help researchers better understand and potentially reverse cellular death in controlled lab settings. 

Himeoka also aims to extend the method to study autonomic systems, such as proteins that control cell machinery.

“We naively believe that death is irreversible, but it is not so trivial and does not have to be the case. I believe that should death become more under our control, human beings, our understanding of life, and society will change completely. In this sense, understanding death is crucial in terms of science and social implications,” Himeoka said.

As researchers continue to explore this bold new idea, the hope of extending life in ways we’ve only dreamed of inches closer to reality. 

One thing’s for sure—this discovery is only the beginning of a much bigger conversation about the limits of life and death, and the formula for life beyond expiry is near than we think.