The Tardigrade Can survive Basically anything.
This animal is totally awesome, it can survive just about everything ranging from temperatures between just above absolute zero and 300 degrees Fahrenheit are no problem. 1200 times atmospheric pressure?it can also survive 1,000 times the lethal dose of radiation for humans .
Tardigrades are classified as extremophiles, organisms that can thrive in a physically or geochemically extreme condition that would be detrimental to most life on Earth. They can even survive the vacuum of outer space. They can go without food or water for more than 10 years, drying out to the point where they are 3% or less water, only to rehydrate, forage, and reproduce.
Usually, tardigrades are about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long when they are fully grown.They are short and plump with four pairs of legs, each with four to eight claws also known as "disks". The animals are prevalent in mosses and lichens and feed on plant cells, algae, and small invertebrates. When collected, they may be viewed under a very-low-power microscope, making them accessible to students and amateur scientists.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade
Source : apod.nasa.gov
Post a Comment