Tardigrades.



They are polyextremophiles; scientists have reported their existence in hot springs, on top of the Himalayas, under layers of solid ice and in ocean sediments. Many species can be found in a milder environment like lakes, ponds and meadows, while others can be found in stone walls and roofs. Tardigrades are most common in moist environments, but can stay active wherever they can retain at least some moisture.

Tardigrades are one of the few groups of species that are capable of reversibly suspending their metabolism and going into a state of cryptobiosis. Several species regularly survive in a dehydrated state for nearly ten years. Depending on the environment they may enter this state via anhydrobiosis, cryobiosis, osmobiosis or anoxybiosis. While in this state their metabolism lowers to less than 0.01% of normal and their water content can drop to 1% of normal. Their ability to remain desiccated for such a long period is largely dependent on the high levels of the non-reducing sugar trehalose, which protects their membranes.

In this cryptobiotic state, Tardigrades have been known to withstand the following extremes:

-Being heated for a few minutes to 151 °C (424 K), or being chilled for days at -200 °C (73 K),or for a few minutes at -272 °C (~1 degree above absolute zero).

-The extremely low pressure of a vacuum and also very high pressures, more than 1,200 times atmospheric pressure. It has recently been demonstrated that Tardigrades can survive the vacuum of open space and solar radiation combined for at least 10 days. Recent research has revealed that they can also withstand pressure of 6,000 atmospheres, which is nearly six times the pressure of water in the deepest ocean trench.

-Tardigrades have been shown to survive nearly 120 years in a dry state and almost a decade without water.

-Tardigrades can withstand median lethal doses of 5,000 Gy (gamma-rays) and 6,200 Gy (heavy ions) in hydrated animals (5 to 10 Gy could be fatal to a human). The only explanation thus far for this ability is that their lowered water state provides fewer reactants for the ionizing radiation

-In September 2007, Tardigrades were taken into low Earth orbit on the FOTON-M3 mission and for 10 days were exposed to the vacuum of space. After they were returned to Earth, it was discovered that many of them survived and laid eggs that hatched normally, making these the only animals known to be able to survive the vacuum of space.

If they evolve an intelligence, we're doomed. They're indestructible.

6/16/2010 1:15:35 PM

6/16/2010 1:17:20 PM

^^ I bet they wont survive fire.


KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!

6/16/2010 1:17:52 PM

Nah these things are pretty small, I reckon I could kick its ass.

6/16/2010 1:17:57 PM

Not even Chuck Norris could stop a pack of angry tardigrades.

6/16/2010 1:17:59 PM

6/16/2010 1:18:45 PM

Chuck Norris has tardigrade DNA you fool

6/16/2010 1:19:04 PM

I can do all that shit. I just don't want to.

6/16/2010 1:19:11 PM

Quote :

"KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!"

Quote :

"Tardigrades have been known to withstand the following extremes: Being heated for a few minutes to 151 °C (424 K)"

Quote :

"I reckon I could kick its ass."

Quote :

"They can also withstand pressure of 6,000 atmospheres, which is nearly six times the pressure of water in the deepest ocean trench."

6/16/2010 1:19:16 PM

That's meaningless, a lanternfish can withstand more pressure than a human, I could still stomp one of those.

6/16/2010 1:21:07 PM

tuff as fuck

6/16/2010 1:21:22 PM

but the lantern fish couldn't survive in your environment just like you can't survive in its environment

the tardigrade lives in ALL environments

try fighting a tardigrade IN SPACE, bitch

6/16/2010 1:22:52 PM

Quote :

"Tardigrades live for three to thirty months"

1. wait a couple years
2. tardigrades die, due to age
3. profit

6/16/2010 1:24:37 PM

I'm literally going to write a Warhammer 40k fanfic where the Space Marines have to fight the Tardigrade army.

FOR THE EMPEROR!

6/16/2010 1:27:24 PM

Quote :

"Tardigrades are one of the few groups of species that are capable of reversibly suspending their metabolism and going into a state of cryptobiosis. Several species regularly survive in a dehydrated state for nearly ten years. Depending on the environment they may enter this state via anhydrobiosis, cryobiosis, osmobiosis or anoxybiosis. While in this state their metabolism lowers to less than 0.01% of normal and their water content can drop to 1% of normal. Their ability to remain desiccated for such a long period is largely dependent on the high levels of the non-reducing sugar trehalose, which protects their membranes. In this cryptobiotic state, Tardigrades have been known to withstand the following extremes: ..."

Who the fuck funds this, really.

6/16/2010 1:33:50 PM

your mom

6/16/2010 1:37:50 PM

yes, we are all in danger of a creature the size of a grain of sand gaining consciousness and an evil will.



however there is a possibility that they could be extraterrestrial in origin or that they could colonize other planets through natural means.

6/16/2010 1:39:30 PM

Quote :

"~1 degree above absolute zero"

6/16/2010 1:40:54 PM

Shaft?

6/16/2010 1:44:24 PM

But, how long could these little guys last in the Jersey Shore hot tub?

6/16/2010 1:49:46 PM

tardigrades are the new crabs.

6/16/2010 1:56:27 PM

Some dude

Quote :

"KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!"

God's rebuttal

Quote :

"Tardigrades have been known to withstand the following extremes: Being heated for a few minutes to 151 °C (424 K)"

Dude, FIRE is a lot hotter than 151 °C

6/16/2010 5:51:47 PM

What's so badass about taking a bunch of shit and not dying? In the world of badass these things fall somewhere between the Lima bean and the rock. Neither of which is very badass at all.

6/16/2010 5:55:14 PM

probably that 10 foot tall sasquatch with the beautiful hair that the drunk dude in cleveland county saw

6/16/2010 5:57:35 PM

Tardigrades are indeed badass.

...reminds me of these:
(they also use trehalose)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastatica

Quote :

"A Pre-historic Evergreen That Just Won't Die This one-of-a-kind plant has lived on the Earth for over 290 million years and has the ability to “come back to life” (much like the undead) over and over again for hundreds of years! Simply place this seemingly dead ball of foliage in water and within hours it transforms into a vibrant green blood-sucking evergreen. Ok, we are kidding about the blood-sucking part. It's still amazing though! It's also great for lazy folks since you can forget to water your Dinosaur plant whenever you want! It will simply dry up and hibernate for up to fifty years and will spring to life every time it is given water. Some Interesting Tidbits about your Dinosaur Plant: During the Carboniferous period these plants used to grow over 120 feet tall (bigger than a T-rex) When dry it curls up into a tight ball so that the wind can easily roll it to a new location or cubicle, hopefully closer to moisture. Retains 3% of its water when it is dehydrated. Grows to be about 4" Enjoys life so much it survived the Ice Age"

6/16/2010 6:03:53 PM

Quote :

"It's also great for lazy folks since you can forget to water your Dinosaur plant whenever you want! It will simply dry up and hibernate for up to fifty years and will spring to life every time it is given water."

awesome

"ah shit, i forgot to water the plants"
"how long since you last watered them?"
"um...like 20 years ago"
"its all good"

6/16/2010 6:07:19 PM

^^ i am ordering 2 of those this summer!

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com

has them

6/16/2010 6:12:47 PM

manbearpig.


took this long for someone to say that?

6/16/2010 10:28:54 PM