Who are these indestructible Water Bears I speak of? They are actually Tardigrades. They are microscopic animals which have disturbed scientists for many years. What is about them is so interesting? The fact is that they are indestructible. The creatures trying to eat them immediately figure that out.
Water bears have been treated to extreme environments, and against all odds, their survival has been astounding. They can survive temperatures ranging from -328 – 300 degrees Fahrenheit, pressures of up to 6000 times our atmosphere, and even…10 days in space! They can live in any environment.
The question though, is how do they do it?
Scientists conducted further research and found a reason for their survival. The reason is anhydrobiosis.
If most living organisms were to enter this state of desiccation, they would not be able to come back from it, but water bears can. According to Thomas Boothby, a Life Sciences Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of North Carolina
Tardigrades have evolved unique genes that allow them to survive drying out. In addition, the proteins that these genes encode can be used to protect other biological material like bacteria, yeast, and certain enzymes from desiccation.”
Water bears seem like very interesting creature to study. An indestructible creature found are you lying? No I am not this is actually a real fact about Tardigrades. If you want to find out more information about other interesting animals check out our other article pages.