Resilient Water Bears
Water Bears, also known as Tardigrades or 'Cutie Bugs', are the common names for the animals of the phylum Tardigrada. Approximately 900 species have been recorded, many of which are globally distributed.
Tardigrades are extremely small in size, with the smallest being only 50 micrometers, while the largest reaches 1.4 millimeters. They can only be seen through a microscope, and their outer surface is covered with a water membrane to prevent them from drying out, and they can breathe oxygen from the water membrane.
Tardigrades are known as the most resilient animals on Earth, and may be the most impressive animals known to humans. They can survive under -200°C for several days, survive for 2 minutes at -272°C and 181°C, and can withstand irradiation doses hundreds of times the lethal dose to humans; they can also withstand six times the pressure of the deepest sea trench under the same pressure.
Tardigrada is a multicellular animal. They are very small, most of them less than 1 millimeter, the smallest Echiniscus parvulus is only 50 micrometers at birth. The largest Macrobiotus bufelandi reaches 1.4 millimeters. They are transparent, colorless, yellow, brown, dark red or green. Their color comes from the food they eat. They are dioecious. They are adapted to extremely harsh environments, including altitudes of 6,000 meters or higher in the Himalayas and depths of 4,000 meters or less in the deep sea. They can even withstand vacuum environments. Approximately 1,200 species are known, divided into three classes: Heterotardigrada (such as Water Bears), Mesotardigrada, and Eutardigrada (such as Slow Bears).
Tardigrades can survive under -200°C for several days, survive for 2 minutes at -272°C and 181°C, and can withstand irradiation doses hundreds of times the lethal dose to humans; they can also withstand six times the pressure of the deepest sea trench under the same pressure. They may use trehalose to stabilize proteins and other important substances, preventing them from swelling in high temperatures.
The water bear is considered the most ‘unbreakable’ animal, and may also be the most impressive animal known to humans. According to reports, they can survive at -200°C for several days, at -272°C and 181°C for 2 minutes; they can withstand irradiation doses hundreds of times the lethal dose to humans; they can also withstand six times the pressure of the deepest sea trench under the same pressure.
Cryptobiosis refers to the ability of tardigrades to enter a dormant state under various adverse conditions, including anhydrobiosis (drying out), cryobiosis (low-temperature dormancy), osmobiosis (osmotic dormancy), and anoxybiosis (oxygen deprivation). They can survive for several days or even months in these states.
The nerve system of tardigrades consists of two pharyngeal ganglia (upper and lower), the lower pharyngeal ganglion is connected to the four ganglion chains in the abdomen. The body cavity cells are responsible for storage. Tardigrades have no circulatory or respiratory systems.
Tardigrades are typically dioecious (male and female). Their gonads are remnants of the secondary cavity (which is common to all arthropods).
Tardigrades can withstand extreme temperatures, radiation, and pressure.
Tardigrades can survive through cryptobiosis, entering a state of suspended animation under adverse conditions.
Tardigrades can enter a dormant state when they are enclosed in a capsule.
Tardigrades have been found to survive for over 120 years in a capsule.
Tardigrades can survive under -200°C for several days, survive for 2 minutes at -272°C and 181°C, and can withstand irradiation doses hundreds of times the lethal dose to humans; they can also withstand six times the pressure of the deepest sea trench under the same pressure.
Tardigrades can survive under -200°C for several days, survive for 2 minutes at -272°C and 181°C, and can withstand irradiation doses hundreds of times the lethal dose to humans; they can also withstand six times the pressure of the deepest sea trench under the same pressure.
Tardigrades can survive under -200°C for several days, survive for 2 minutes at -272°C and 181°C, and can withstand irradiation doses hundreds of times the lethal dose to humans; they can also withstand six times the pressure of the deepest sea trench under the same pressure.
Tardigrades can survive under -200°C for several days, survive for 2 minutes at -272°C and 181°C, and can withstand irradiation doses hundreds of times the lethal dose to humans; they can also withstand six times the pressure of the deepest sea trench under the same pressure.
Tardigrades can survive under -200°C for several days, survive for 2 minutes at -272°C and 181°C, and can withstand irradiation doses hundreds of times the lethal dose to humans; they can also withstand six times the pressure of the deepest sea trench under the same pressure.
Tardigrades can survive under -200°C for several days, survive for 2 minutes at -272°C and 181°C, and can withstand irradiation doses hundreds of times the lethal dose to humans; they can also withstand six times the pressure of the deepest sea trench under the same pressure.
Tardigrades can survive under -200°C for several days, survive for 2 minutes at -272°C and 181°C, and can withstand irradiation doses hundreds of times the lethal dose to humans; they can also withstand six times the pressure of the deepest sea trench under the same pressure.
(threshold)
4
(Variable percolation)Macrobiotus bufelandi0.4%15%9Echiniscoides sigismundi
1842Doyère“”125°C20G.Rahm),151°C“”15“”
“trehalose”
·Thomas Boothby“”“‘’”
-272℃151℃2-200℃-20℃306
(Moss and lichen)(Hay)20%50%,648
