Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are tiny aquatic animals that are known for their incredible resilience and ability to survive in extreme environments.
One of the most remarkable things about tardigrades is their ability to survive in a dehydrated state, known as cryptobiosis. They can go without water for extended periods of time and still come back to life once water is reintroduced.
They are also incredibly resilient to radiation, extreme temperatures, and high pressures. They have been shown to survive temperatures as low as -328 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 304 degrees Fahrenheit. They can also survive pressures up to 6 times greater than the pressure at the bottom of the ocean.
Additionally, tardigrades have been found to survive in space and on the International Space Station, making them one of the few known organisms that can survive outside of Earth's atmosphere.
Their resilience has led to the study of tardigrade's proteins, molecules and biochemistry in hopes of finding new ways to protect other organisms and even human cells from extreme environments.
What do you find most interesting about tardigrades? Share your thoughts and observations about these fascinating creatures here!