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Mosby

(19,421 posts)
Mon Nov 27, 2017, 02:51 PM Nov 2017

World's Most Indestructible Creature [View all]





Boil them, deep-freeze them, crush them, dry them out or blast them into space: tardigrades will survive it all and come back for more

The tiny tardigrade has been named the world’s most indestructible species after scientists discovered it is the only creature that will survive until the Sun dies.

Although cockroaches are traditionally seen as Earth’s most resilient species, the eight-legged microbeasts are actually far hardier and will continue to thrive for around 10 billion years, come hell or high water, Oxford University has found.

Tardigrades, which are also known as space bears or moss piglets, are able to survive for up to 30 years without food or water and endure temperature extremes of up to 150 degrees celsius, the deep sea and the frozen vacuum of space.

Researchers from Oxford and Harvard University, found that their astonishing abilities would protect them from calamities which would wipe out all life on Earth. In fact the only forces capable of harming tardigrades, such as a gigantic asteroid, an exploding star or a deadly gammar ray burst will not happen before our own Sun dies.


https://www.geologyin.com/2017/10/worlds-most-indestructible-creature.html
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