Tardigrades or water bears are virtually indestructible creatures. They are the first known creatures to survive open space. The dried-out tardigrades were part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) experimental payloads on their FOTON-M3 mission, launched in September of 2007.
These harmless microscopic invertebrates (0.1 - 1.5 mm) live in oceans and ponds, but often in water droplets on mosses and lichens. The little alien lookalikes are fascinating because they are incredibly resilient. They can survive for years in their dried state and yet they can be instantly brought back to life with just a drop of water. They can withstand extreme temperatures, acid and solvent attack, high pressure, and low vacuums.
The ESA’s 10-day experiment examined how well the tardigrades reacted to not just airless conditions but also UV radiation and cosmic rays. Two-thirds of the tardigrades protected against the intense UV light from the sun not only survived, but went on to produce eggs after they were rehydrated. The only thing that could really kill them was the UV light - more than 1000x stronger than on Earth. Very few unprotected tardigrades survived.
The grey picture of a dead tardigrade was taken with an electron microscope. The video shows a lively water bear in action.
What's Driving This Trend
- Resilient Microorganisms
- The survival capabilities of tardigrades in extreme conditions present opportunities for the development of resilient microorganisms in various industries.
- Space Exploration
- The ability of tardigrades to survive in open space opens up possibilities for further research and innovation in the field of space exploration and colonization.
- Biotechnology
- The unique resilience of tardigrades offers potential applications in biotechnology, such as the development of new materials or medical treatments.
Who This Affects Most
- Aerospace
- The aerospace industry can leverage the survival capabilities of tardigrades to improve spacecraft design and develop measures against UV radiation and extreme conditions in space.
- Environmental Monitoring
- The resilience of tardigrades can be utilized in the environmental monitoring industry to develop new sensors and techniques for detecting and monitoring extreme conditions in ecosystems.
- Pharmaceutical
- The pharmaceutical industry can explore the unique properties of tardigrades to develop new drugs or therapies that can withstand extreme conditions and enhance human resilience.
