Topic: Tardigrades
Anonymous A started this discussion 11 years ago #39,739
I would like to tell you about these amazing little creatures, tardigrades. It is earth's most renacious create, and it can live in boiling water, solid ice, and the intense radiation of space. It can survive a decade in a desert, without a drop of water to drink, or in the deepest trenches of the sea. These little creatures are quite amazing! Here are some interesting tardigrade facts:- Tardigrades change form to survive without water. When faced with extreme conditions, tardigrades can dry out completely, replacing almost of the water in their bodies with a sugar called trehalose. As a result, they're able to survive environments that would otherwise kill them.
- Tardigrades' minuscule size hides them from predators. For all their resilience, the tardigrade is one of nature's smallest creatures. Barely the size of a poppy seed at less than 1.5 millimeters long, the tardigrade can exist hidden in sediments and seas, unnoticed by potential predators.
- Tardigrades' mouths contain sharp daggers. Though they may be little, they are fierce! The tardigrade's mouth is a serious weapon, its dagger-like teeth used to spear algae and even other small animals.
- Tardigrades traveled to space – and survived. To test the true resilience of tardigrades, Swedish researcher K. Ingemar Jonsson from Kristianstad University launched tardigrades into space on the FOTON-M3 spacecraft on low-Earth orbit in 2007. Exposed to open space conditions, most of the tardigrades survived exposure to vacuum and cosmic rays, with some even surviving deadly levels of UV radiation.
- They've been around longer than nearly every other living organism. Tardigrades roamed the earth and seas far before humans did – and will most likely outlast us. Will the tardigrades be nature's last organisms standing? Only time will tell.
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 1 hour later[^] [v] #529,161
Fascinating stuff.
Bees are pretty incredible, but for different reasons. Jellyfish too, from what I have read.
The resilience of your tardigrades is inspiring.
Bees are pretty incredible, but for different reasons. Jellyfish too, from what I have read.
The resilience of your tardigrades is inspiring.
Anonymous B double-posted this 11 years ago, 10 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #529,163
@previous (B)
> Bees are pretty incredible, but for different reasons. Jellyfish too, from what I have read.
Also, these robins. They're the best.
> Bees are pretty incredible, but for different reasons. Jellyfish too, from what I have read.
Also, these robins. They're the best.
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 4 hours later, 6 hours after the original post[^] [v] #529,188
They seem interesting, but they have 'tard' in their name. Poor naming decision. Sorry.
Anonymous C double-posted this 11 years ago, 53 seconds later, 6 hours after the original post[^] [v] #529,189
Their other name, Waterbear, is very cool however.
(Edited 23 seconds later.)
Syntax joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 2 hours later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #529,208
@529,161 (B)This may edge a bit off topic but yes Jellyfish are amazing - So far have never been stung by one but most surfers I surf with have
Several varieties are edible and very tasty.
Syntax double-posted this 11 years ago, 19 seconds later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #529,209
DasSheeple joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 19 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #529,210
Damn what an impressive little fella... fill up a jar with Tardigrades and send them to Mars to start terraforming it...
Anonymous B replied with this 11 years ago, 9 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #529,211
@previous (DasSheeple)
While it says they are able to survive, it does not suggest they are able to thrive away from water.
Happy to be proven wrong, though.
While it says they are able to survive, it does not suggest they are able to thrive away from water.
Happy to be proven wrong, though.
Syntax replied with this 11 years ago, 23 minutes later, 9 hours after the original post[^] [v] #529,213
@previous (B)
Been working my ass off taking advantage of terrific drop in US Stock Market so in between I have read the wiki on this truly amazing creature - Read top to bottom and several other articles (skimmed) over the last couple of hours
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade
> it does not suggest they are able to thrive away from water.
> Dehydration – the longest that living tardigrades have been shown to survive in a dry state is nearly 10 years
Wot shocked me - Trips to space with full exposure to a total vacuum - not only survived but reproduced. Super high tolerance to radiation - even better then many of the parts used for Satellites.
Been working my ass off taking advantage of terrific drop in US Stock Market so in between I have read the wiki on this truly amazing creature - Read top to bottom and several other articles (skimmed) over the last couple of hours
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade
> it does not suggest they are able to thrive away from water.
> Dehydration – the longest that living tardigrades have been shown to survive in a dry state is nearly 10 years
Wot shocked me - Trips to space with full exposure to a total vacuum - not only survived but reproduced. Super high tolerance to radiation - even better then many of the parts used for Satellites.
netscape !fV146ZJdLc joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 4 hours later, 14 hours after the original post[^] [v] #529,267
op they are called WATER BEARS
you tardigrade
you tardigrade
Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU joined in and replied with this 7 years ago, 4 years later, 4 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,025,521
Unlocked by request.
Ananthanarayanan M R joined in and replied with this 7 years ago, 2 minutes later, 4 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,025,522
i like giraffes
Anonymous B replied with this 7 years ago, 14 seconds later, 4 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,025,523
Syntax joined in and replied with this 7 years ago, 12 minutes later, 4 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,025,532
@529,208 (Syntax)> This may edge a bit off topic but yes Jellyfish are amazing - So far have never been stung by one but most surfers I surf with have
> Several varieties are edible and very tasty.
UPDATE
About 2 years after that reply I can testify that Jellyfish do STING, which was/is memorable
Of more importance is - North and South of me Great With Sharks ARE Currently - Interesting that so far my Ocean a Blue water remains free of them
terri !RwordOooFE joined in and replied with this 7 years ago, 7 hours later, 4 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,025,730
terri !RwordOooFE double-posted this 7 years ago, 2 minutes later, 4 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,025,733
Autist !StaYqkzUPc joined in and replied with this 7 years ago, 3 minutes later, 4 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,025,739
We should start a petition to get tardigrades and demodex to swap names.
Anonymous M joined in and replied with this 7 years ago, 2 hours later, 4 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,025,821
I picked up a tiny jelly and it didn’t sting me I guess I was lucky I got stabbed in the foot by a sting ray though
Sheila LaBoof joined in and replied with this 7 years ago, 24 minutes later, 4 years after the original post[^] [v] #1,025,824
The song by Eric Prydz - Call On Me should be redone as "Tar di grades"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UknCBaEt38k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UknCBaEt38k