Scientists identified ribonuclease κ (RNASEK) as a critical enzyme that degrades circular RNAs (circRNAs), which accumulate toxically in aging cells. RNASEK levels decline with age, allowing circRNAs to aggregate within stress granules—cellular structures that form during stress. When researchers enhanced RNASEK activity in C. elegans worms, both lifespan and healthspan extended significantly. The enzyme works alongside heat shock protein 90 to prevent these RNA aggregates from becoming toxic. This mechanism appears conserved across species, functioning similarly in human cells and mice. The discovery reframes circular RNAs from innocuous byproducts to active aging drivers. While circRNAs were previously thought neutral, this research positions them as upstream regulators of cellular senescence. The therapeutic implications are substantial—boosting RNASEK activity or developing circRNA-clearing compounds could represent novel anti-aging interventions. However, the work primarily relies on model organisms, and translating RNASEK enhancement to humans remains untested. The stress granule connection is particularly intriguing, as these structures are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases where protein aggregation drives pathology. This represents a paradigm shift linking RNA metabolism directly to longevity, opening entirely new therapeutic avenues for age-related diseases.