Tardigrades refer to a diverse group of microscopic invertebrates first discovered in 1773. These eight-legged segmented micro-animals are one of the most indestructible life forms on Earth because of their ability to survive extreme environmental conditions.
Also known as moss piglets or water bears, these organisms have the ability to live for up to 60 years and grow to a maximum length of 0.5 millimeters. Tardigrades can also survive for up to 30 years without food or water.
These mysterious animals can survive being completely dried out. They can live for up to a few minutes when exposed to temperatures as low as -457 degrees Fahrenheit (-272 degrees Celsius) or as high as 302 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius).
Unlike other organisms, water bears can withstand pressures ranging from 0 atm in space up to 1,200 atm at the bottom of the Marianas Trench. They can also resist radiation levels up to 5,000 - 6,200 Gy, several thousand times more than what a human can withstand.
Moss piglets are able to withstand such extreme conditions by entering a state of suspended animation called biostasis. In this process, they use proteins that form gels inside of cells and slow down biological processes.
The ability of tardigrades to survive being completely dried out has puzzled experts. This is due to the fact that these organisms do so in a manner that is different from a number of other organisms with the ability to enter suspended animation.
This characteristic makes tardigrade proteins potential candidates in studies centered on slowing the aging process of human cells. To establish this connection, researchers from University of Wyoming examine the mechanism used by the micro-animal to enter and exit from suspended animation.
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