Imagine stepping into a world where woolly mammoths, dodos, and Tasmanian tigers once again roam the Earth. It sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but with today’s advancements in gene-editing technology and a little help from some famous faces, this idea is becoming more real by the day. Colossal Biosciences, a biotech company based in Texas, is leading the charge to bring these long-extinct animals back to life.

Here’s how it works: scientists at Colossal are carefully studying the DNA of these extinct creatures’ closest living relatives. For instance, the woolly mammoth shares 99.5% of its genetic makeup with the Asian elephant, making the elephant the perfect stand-in for recreating the mammoth. Similarly, the Nicobar pigeon is the closest relative to the dodo, and the fat-tailed dunnart shares ties with the Tasmanian tiger.

Adding a unique twist to this story, actor Chris Hemsworth and entrepreneur Paris Hilton have thrown their support behind the project. Together, they’ve helped raise a staggering $235 million to fund Colossal’s efforts. Their involvement isn’t just for show—it’s drawing attention and generating excitement around the project, which could change the way we think about extinction.

The team at Colossal has an ambitious timeline. They hope to see the first animals reintroduced as early as 2028. The woolly mammoth may take a bit longer due to its 22-month gestation period, but the dodo and Tasmanian tiger, with their shorter reproductive cycles, could potentially return even sooner.

But this isn’t just about resurrecting these species for the novelty. Colossal envisions these animals playing a vital role in restoring ecosystems that once depended on them. For example, reintroducing woolly mammoths to the Arctic tundra could help promote the growth of grasslands that slow permafrost thaw, contributing to the fight against climate change.

With Hemsworth and Hilton’s backing, Colossal’s mission is not just a scientific endeavor—it’s becoming a global conversation. As excitement builds, we may be on the cusp of a new era where the impossible becomes reality and long-lost species walk the Earth again.