Stem cells are a class of progenitor cells with vigorous proliferation and differentiation potential under specific conditions both in vivo and in vitro. They have significant application value in fields related to human health, such as tissue damage repair, regenerative medicine, disease treatment, and anti-aging. Meanwhile, through the study of stem cells, our understanding of the essence of life can be continuously enriched. This paper provides a brief overview of the research progress of stem cells from basic research to practical application fields and discusses the development trends and unsolved scientific and technical issues related to human health, aiming to provide valuable references and insights for readers interested in related field and those who wish to expand their understanding of the essence of life.