There’s a secret battle being waged inside our batteries at the cellular level, and what most people don’t realize is that there is a hidden “intelligence” that actively defends our cells from attack and consequently, us. That’s the amazing discovery made by a Harvard scientist who just won one of five $3 million Breakthrough Prizes in life sciences.

Stephen Elledge, a scientist at the Harvard Medical School, found that there is a mechanism in our cells that can recognize when things are going on, preventing cancer from breaking out. Our cells go through a lot of damage every moment of the day from sun radiation, heat from laptops, chemicals from air pollution and alcohol. Such damage can turn into a mutation that can turn into cancer, but there is a hidden intelligence within our cells that keep us from being totally ravaged by cancer that Elledge discovered, according to a statement from Harvard Medical Center.

The mechanism is called DNA damage response and it works like an intelligent agent that monitors when things go awry, finding a way to deal with them. It’s key to our body’s ability to prevent diseases as we continue to age. If we can learn more about it, it may change how we understand cancer and help us further extend our lives.

“This magnificent award is a fitting recognition and acknowledgement of Stephen’s outstanding ingenuity, tenacity and vision,” said Elizabeth G. Nabel, president of Brigham and Women’s Health Care. “We are extremely fortunate to count him among our colleagues here at Brigham and Women’s, and congratulate him and this year’s other prize winners on their remarkable achievements.”