An extraordinary being arrives on Earth that can withstand tortuous conditions: boiling, freezing, tremendous pressure, total dehydration, ionizing radiation, etc .They can also live in vacuum. They can lie dormant for 10-100 years and then come back to life with a drop of water. These creatures are called as “water bears”, a tiny creature of the size of a grain of sand. There are over 1000 known species of water bears. They are also known as “Tardigrades”. Most tardigrades eat plant matter, bacteria, nematodes, etc. They thrive in most extreme environments from the Equator to the Polar regions. One of the keys to this hardy creatures success seems to be the presence of trehalose , a cellular sugar which preserves the membrane that form their bodies. In any event easily transported and dispersed over the Earth via wind, ocean and animal gult.
Do you want to see water bear for yourself?
Anyone with a microscope can observe it. Just find a moss, soak it in some spring water in a petri-dish and observe a tardigrade (water bear).
Do you want to see water bear for yourself?
Anyone with a microscope can observe it. Just find a moss, soak it in some spring water in a petri-dish and observe a tardigrade (water bear).