These tardigrades are one of the hardiest creatures on our planet. They survive for more than a hundred years without water, are able to survive at -271°C in liquid helium and at +100°C in boiling water, withstand 1000 times higher radiation doses than humans, and even stay in outer space!
Tardigrades attracted the attention of early researchers with their amazing endurance. When unfavorable conditions occur, they are capable of falling into a state of suspended animation for years; and when favorable conditions arise, they come to life quite quickly. Tardigrades survive mainly due to the so-called. anhydrobiosis, drying. When dry, they draw the limbs into the body, decrease in volume and take the shape of a barrel. The surface is covered with a wax coating that prevents evaporation. During suspended animation, their metabolism drops to 0.01%, and the water content can reach up to 1% of normal.
In a state of suspended animation, tardigrades endure incredible loads.
Temperature. Stay for 20 months. in liquid air at -193 °C, eight-hour cooling with liquid helium to -271 °C; heating to 60-65°C for 10 hours and up to 100°C for an hour.
Ionizing radiation of 570,000 roentgens kills approximately 50% of exposed tardigrades. For humans, the lethal dose of radiation is only 500 roentgens.
Atmosphere: Came to life after being in a vacuum for half an hour. They can remain in an atmosphere of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide for quite a long time.
Pressure: In an experiment by Japanese biophysicists, “sleeping” tardigrades were placed in a sealed plastic container and immersed in a high-pressure chamber filled with water, gradually bringing it to 600 MPa (about 6000 atmospheres), which is almost 6 times higher than the pressure level at the lowest point Mariana Trench. It did not matter what liquid the container was filled with: water or a non-toxic weak solvent, perfluorocarbon C8F18, the survival results were the same.
Outer space: In an experiment by Swedish scientists, tardigrades of the species Richtersius coronifer and Milnesium tardigradum were divided into three groups. One of them, upon arrival in orbit, found itself in vacuum conditions and was exposed to cosmic radiation. Another group, in addition to this, was also irradiated with ultraviolet A and B (280 - 400 nm). The third group of animals was exposed to the full spectrum of ultraviolet light (116 - 400 nm). All tardigrades were in a state of suspended animation. After 10 days spent in outer space, almost all organisms were dried out, but on board the spacecraft the tardigrades returned to normal. Most animals exposed to ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of 280 - 400 nm survived and were able to reproduce. However, ultraviolet irradiation had a critical effect, only 12% of the animals of the second group survived, all of them belonged to the species Milnesium tardigradum. However, the survivors were able to produce normal offspring, although their fertility was lower than that of the control group on Earth. All animals from the third group died a few days after returning to Earth.
Humidity: there is a known case when moss taken from the desert, approximately 120 years after it was dried out, was placed in water, the tardigrades in it came to life and were capable of reproducing.
Many animals have adapted to certain living conditions, but some of them are champions of their kind. They are so resistant to death that they are practically immortal. They are able to withstand extreme temperatures, sudden climate changes, and many other conditions that would be lethal to an ordinary creature. In this collection we will tell you about five such creatures.
1. Immortal jellyfish
Turritopsis nutricula is better known as the immortal jellyfish and fully deserves its nickname. After reaching sexual maturity, this creature returns to the initial polyp stage and begins to mature again. This process can be endless, the life cycle can be repeated an unlimited number of times. Like the main character in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the jellyfish ages, then becomes younger again, ad infinitum.
2. Hydra
Hydra is somewhat similar to the immortal jellyfish. But this process has not yet been fully studied by scientists. It is known that hydra has special chambers that easily die off and are replaced by new ones. This greatly simplifies the process of removing toxins and getting rid of various defects.
3. Fish Lang
The lungs of this small fish are its main weapon, making it immortal. They allow it to survive very long periods of drought, lasting up to a year. This fish can burrow alive into the mud and hibernate for an entire summer, easily surviving periods of drought without any nutrients. An interesting experiment was accidentally carried out with lang fish - during transportation, the metal cube with mud in which it was placed was lost. It was found only 6 months later, and the mud had turned into a dry monolith. They diluted it a little with water, and the fish continued to breathe as if nothing had happened half a year later.
4. Tardigrade
They call her a water bear, although she has nothing in common with him. If bears were as resilient, they would not be endangered now. This slow-moving microscopic animal lives in water. Its length is only one and a half millimeters, the tardigrade can be found all over the world, from the Himalayas and the equator to the distant polar regions.
regions. This creature is very flexible to weather conditions, making it unusually resistant to death. Tardigrade can survive temperatures of minus 273 degrees Celsius and plus 151 degrees. The creature can also withstand doses of radiation 1000 times higher than the maximum dose for any other creature on the planet. Ten years without moisture is also not a problem for the tardigrade. In 2007, tardigrades were placed in a complete vacuum in low orbit. Surprisingly, they were still alive upon returning to Earth.
5. Wood weta
The tree weta is a giant cockroach-like insect found in New Zealand. However, it is able to survive in colder countries. There is a special protein in his blood that prevents blood from stopping. Even under the influence of extreme subzero temperatures, his blood will still function. In this case, the insect's heart and brain will be completely turned off, like a zombie. But somehow miraculously they will start working again when the insect thaws
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A person strives for sporting achievements for the sake of awards and fame, world recognition or money. Every day animals need to set their own records of strength and speed, agility and endurance in order to survive in difficult conditions of competition for a place in the sun. That is why nature endowed our smaller brothers with fast legs, sharp eyesight, a keen sense of smell, sharp teeth and strong muscles.
The fastest
Cheetahs are considered the land record holders for fastest running, reaching speeds in open space of up to 100 km/h. Unfortunately, the animal is not able to maintain such a pace of movement for a long time and reduces it as the distance increases. Pursuing their prey, these graceful representatives of the cat family make huge seven-meter jumps, pushing off with their powerful hind legs.
Among birds, the title of champion in speed belongs to the peregrine falcon. In order to unexpectedly grab the victim, he deliberately falls down like a stone, while developing a speed of 350 km/h. Tuna moves the fastest in water, covering 70 km of water space in an hour.
The largest
The absolute winner among the planet's heavyweights is the whale. The weight of the giant is 150 tons. Neither on land nor in the ocean does it have any competitors in terms of size and weight, since the whale shark, occupying second position on the pedestal of giants, weighs only 12 tons.
Of the land animals, the record holder is the elephant, whose mass is 5 tons. The title of the largest and heaviest bird on Earth belongs to the ostrich. Reaching 2.5 meters in height, the feathered giant weighs about 130 kg.
The strongest
Despite the fact that an elephant is capable of lifting weights of several tons, the tiny ant is rightfully considered the strongest animal. This insect can carry a load 50 times its own body weight. It is not for nothing that the ant is a symbol of hard work and endurance - it almost always has to lift objects that weigh more than itself.
The most poisonous
Oddly enough, the most poisonous inhabitants of the planet are not snakes and scorpions, but sea inhabitants - transparent Australian jellyfish. The deadly poison concentrated in the tentacles of one 6-kilogram monster is enough to kill 60 people. Jellyfish are dangerous to many inhabitants of the deep sea, including fish and squid. Just 4 minutes is enough for her victim to fall dead, struck by even a small portion of poison.
The oldest
The Moorish tortoise lives the longest on Earth. Her average lifespan is 150 years. Its close relative, the royal tortoise, often lives up to 120 years. Elephants and horses live exactly half as long, often surviving their 60th anniversary.
Parrots and condors, which live for half a century, are recognized as long-lived birds. Among fish, carps and eels occupy pride of place on the list of elders, often living to their 25th birthday.
The smallest
A representative of the shrew family called the baby shrew tops the list of the smallest creatures on our planet. Weighing 2 grams, its body length is 3 cm. The tiny mammal is very active, but almost invisible under a layer of leaves and in thick grass. This inch is also famous for the fact that it sleeps 80 times a day for several minutes, and devotes the rest of its time to searching for food.
The hardiest
Contrary to popular belief, it is not the camel that is the hardiest animal on the planet. This title rightfully belongs to the rock squirrel - a small, nimble animal well adapted to survival in harsh mountain conditions and prolonged drought. The fidgety fidget is not afraid of starvation for 100 days in a row. A rock squirrel can go 3 months without drinking water without harming its health.
Closest to man
Apes resemble humans more than other animals. The structure of their body and behavior, antics and grimaces, facial expressions and emotions - all this indicates the high development of the brain of monkeys and evolutionary closeness to humans. Of all the representatives of the family, chimpanzees are especially worth noting, because they, like no other, remind us of ourselves.
There are still many record-breaking animals in the world that can surprise people with the size of their ears and the number of legs, the size of their tail and the number of teeth. They all strive to jump higher, run faster, and be stronger. All of them adapt to difficult living conditions in order to survive and win a difficult competition organized by nature itself, called “natural selection.”
We continue to replenish ours!
They are said to survive up to ten years without water, can survive at -271°C in liquid helium and +100°C in boiling water, can withstand 1000 times more radiation than humans, and have even been in outer space!
Let's find out WHO THIS IS and is it true...
Tardigrada (lat. Tardigrada) is a type of microscopic invertebrates close to arthropods. This animal was first described in 1773 by the German pastor I. A. Götze as a kleiner Wasserbär (small water bear). In 1777, the Italian scientist Lazzaro Spallanzani gave them the name il tardigrado, the tardigrada, the Latinized form of which is Tardigrada (from 1840).
The body of tardigrades (or they are also called water bears) has a size of 0.1-1.5 mm, translucent, consisting of four segments and a head. Equipped with 4 pairs of short and thick legs with 4-8 long bristle-like claws at the end, with the last pair of legs directed backwards. Tardigrades move really very slowly - at a speed of only 2-3 mm per minute. The mouthparts are a pair of sharp stylets that serve to pierce the cell membranes of algae and mosses on which tardigrades feed. Tardigrades have digestive, excretory, nervous and reproductive systems; however, they do not have a respiratory or circulatory system—skin respiration, and the role of blood is played by the fluid filling the body cavity.
Currently, more than 900 species of tardigrades are known (in Russia there are 120 species). Due to their microscopic size and ability to withstand adverse conditions, they are distributed everywhere, from the Himalayas (up to 6000 m) to the depths of the sea (below 4000 m). Tardigrades have been found in hot springs, under ice (for example, on Spitsbergen) and on the ocean floor. They spread passively - by wind, water, and various animals.
All tardigrades are aquatic to some extent. Approximately 10% are marine inhabitants, others are found in freshwater bodies, but the majority inhabit moss and lichen cushions on the ground, trees, rocks and stone walls. The number of tardigrades in moss can be very large - hundreds, even thousands of individuals in 1 g of dried moss. Tardigrades feed on the fluids of the plants and algae on which they live. Some species eat small animals - rotifers, nematodes, and other tardigrades. In turn, they serve as prey for ticks and springtails.
Tardigrades attracted the attention of early researchers with their amazing endurance. When unfavorable conditions occur, they are capable of falling into a state of suspended animation for years; and when favorable conditions arise, they come to life quite quickly. Tardigrades survive mainly due to the so-called. anhydrobiosis, drying. When dry, they draw the limbs into the body, decrease in volume and take the shape of a barrel. The surface is covered with a wax coating that prevents evaporation. During suspended animation, their metabolism drops to 0.01%, and the water content can reach up to 1% of normal.
In a state of suspended animation, tardigrades endure incredible loads.
* Temperature. Stay for 20 months. in liquid air at -193°C, eight-hour cooling with liquid helium to -271°C; heating to 60-65°C for 10 hours and up to 100°C for an hour.
* Ionizing radiation of 570,000 roentgens kills approximately 50% of tardigrades exposed. For humans, the lethal dose of radiation is only 500 roentgens.
* Atmosphere: Came to life after being in a vacuum for half an hour. They can remain in an atmosphere of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide for quite a long time.
* Pressure: In an experiment by Japanese biophysicists, “sleeping” tardigrades were placed in a sealed plastic container and immersed in a high-pressure chamber filled with water, gradually bringing it to 600 MPa (approx. 6000 atmospheres), which is almost 6 times higher than the pressure level in the lowest point of the Mariana Trench. It did not matter what liquid the container was filled with: water or a non-toxic weak solvent, perfluorocarbon C8F18, the survival results were the same.
* Humidity: there is a known case when moss taken from the desert, approximately 120 years after it was dried out, was placed in water, the tardigrades in it came to life and were capable of reproducing.
* Open space:
In September 2007, the European Space Agency sent several individuals into space, to an altitude of 160 miles. Some water bears were exposed only to vacuum, some were also exposed to radiation 1000 times higher than background Earth radiation. All tardigrades not only survived, but also laid eggs and successfully reproduced
Experiments in orbit have shown that tardigrades—ranging in size from 0.1 to 1.5 millimeters—are capable of surviving in outer space. In their work, the results of which were published in the journal Current Biology, biologists from several countries showed that some tardigrades are able to fully restore their vital functions and produce viable offspring.
In this work, a team of biologists, led by Ingemar Jonsson from the University of Kristianstad, sent two species of tardigrades into Earth orbit - Richtersius coronifer and Milnesium tardigradum. The arthropods spent 10 days on board the Russian unmanned vehicle Foton-M3. A total of 120 tardigrades have been in space, 60 individuals of each species. During the flight, one group of arthropods, including both species, was in a vacuum (the shutter separating the chamber with tardigrades from outer space was open), but was protected from solar radiation by a special screen. Two more groups of tardigrades spent 10 days in a vacuum and were exposed to ultraviolet A (wavelength 400 - 315 nanometers) or ultraviolet B (wavelength 315 - 280 nanometers). The last group of arthropods experienced all the “features” of outer space.
All tardigrades were in a state of suspended animation. After 10 days spent in outer space, almost all organisms were dried out, but on board the spacecraft the tardigrades returned to normal. Most animals exposed to ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of 280 - 400 nm survived and were able to reproduce. Individuals of R. coronifer were unable to survive the full range of influences (low temperature, vacuum, ultraviolet A and B), only 12% of animals in this group survived, all of them belonged to the species Milnesium tardigradum. However, the survivors were able to produce normal offspring, although their fertility was lower than that of the control group on Earth.
So far, scientists do not know the mechanisms that helped tardigrades survive exposure to the harsh ultraviolet radiation of outer space. Radiation of this wavelength causes DNA breaks and mutations. Tardigrades probably have special defense systems that protect or quickly repair their genetic material. Understanding how living systems are able to protect themselves from the harmful effects of space is important for the development of astronautics and the organization of long-distance space flights and a lunar base.
What is the secret of such survivability of tardigrades? They are not only able to reach a state where their metabolism practically stops, but also maintain this state for years at any time during their existence.
Here is an example of the Arctic Adorybiotus coronifer in this frozen state:
But here are the seasonal changes of this creature depending on weather conditions (1 - cold autumn and winter; 2 - spring; 3 - active form, summer; 4 - molting):
Thus, the existence of tardigrades refutes the theory that only cockroaches are able to survive a nuclear explosion. This creature is much more tenacious, many times smaller than a cockroach, and also much cuter :)
Their Italian name "tardigrado" is of Latin origin and means "slow moving". It was given at the discovery of animals due to their slow movement. Tardigrades are almost transparent and on average reach half a millimeter in length. The body of the tardigrade consists of five parts: a clearly defined head with a mouth and four segments, each of which has a pair of legs with claws. The body of animals is covered with a thin and flexible, resistant cuticle, which they shed as they grow (molting). The anatomical structure of these small animals resembles the structure of larger ones. In particular, tardigrades have a brain on the dorsal side, small eyes and nerve ganglia on the ventral side (like flies). Their digestive system includes a mouth with sharp stylets and a sucking extension of the pharynx to suck out the contents of the cells of other microscopic animals or plants, intestines and anus. Fortunately, tardigrades are not pathogenic to humans. They have longitudinal muscles and excretory organs.
A single sac-shaped gonad located dorsally distinguishes males, females and self-fertilizing hermaphrodites. Some species consist only of females, reproducing by parthenogenesis, that is, without the participation of males. Due to their small size, tardigrades do not require the respiratory and circulatory systems for gas exchange. The fluid present in the body cavity performs the functions of the respiratory and circulatory systems. Systematically, tardigrades are very close to arthropods, in particular to crustaceans and insects, which also lose their cuticle during growth and have the largest number of species on Earth. Being very close to arthropods, tardigrades are not them. Various species of tardigrades have been found everywhere on the planet: from the polar regions to the equator, from coastal zones1 to the deep ocean, and even on mountain tops. To date, approximately 1,100 species of tardigrades have been described, living in seas, lakes and rivers or in terrestrial habitats. Their numbers are increasing rapidly every year due to new discoveries and revisions of existing species.
Although all tardigrades require water to survive, many species can survive even in the temporary absence of water. Thus, the greatest number of tardigrades were found on the ground, where they live in mosses, lichens, leaves and moist soil. The widespread distribution of tardigrades on Earth is closely related to their survival strategies.
Terrestrial tardigrades can live in two main states: active state and cryptobiosis2. When active, tardigrades require water to eat, grow, reproduce, move, and carry out normal activities. In a state of cryptobiosis, metabolic activity stops due to lack of water. When environmental conditions change and water appears, they can return to an active state again. Such a reversible suspension of metabolic activity was naturally compared to death and resurrection. Terrestrial tardigrades respond to stimuli differently depending on the sources of stress, and their responses are collectively termed cryptobiosis. This condition can be caused by desiccation (anhydrobiosis), freezing (cryobiosis), lack of oxygen (anoxybiosis), and high concentrations of solutes (osmobiosis).
Anhydrobiosis, a state of metabolic rest due to almost complete desiccation, is a common phenomenon in terrestrial tardigrades, which can enter this state several times. To survive in this transitional state, tardigrades must dry out very slowly. The grass, mosses and lichens inhabited by terrestrial tardigrades contain numerous pools of water, like sponges, which dry out extremely slowly. Tardigrades dry out as their environment loses water. They have no other way to escape, since tardigrades are too small to run. The tardigrade loses up to 97% of its water content and dries out to form a shape approximately one-third its original size, called a "barrel". The formation of such a “barrel” occurs as the animal draws its legs and head into its body to reduce its area. When rehydrated by dew, rain or melted snow, the tardigrade can return to an active state within minutes or hours. This amazing ability to survive appears to be a direct response to rapid and unpredictable changes in the terrestrial microenvironment.
Marine tardigrades do not develop such features because their environment is usually more stable. An animal can be in a state of anhydrobiosis from several months to twenty years, depending on the species, and survive almost anything. The most famous feature of the tardigrade is its ability to survive in extremely extreme conditions. During the experiments, dehydrated tardigrades were exposed to temperatures ranging from minus 272.95°C, i.e. close to absolute zero, up to +150°C, i.e. temperature in the oven when baking the cake. After rehydration, the animals return to an active state. Thus, tardigrades that were in a state of anhydrobiosis for several years at a temperature of -80°C survived. Tardigrades were also exposed to atmospheric pressure 12,000 times normal pressure, as well as excessive amounts of asphyxiating gases (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide), and were able to return to an active state after rehydration. Exposure to ionizing radiation more than 1,000 times lethal to humans had no effect on the tardigrades.
In 2007, the tardigrade became the first animal to survive the effects of the destructive space environment. In an experiment carried out on the TARDIS spacecraft, thanks to equipment provided by the European Space Agency, tardigrades in a state of anhydrobiosis were directly exposed to solar radiation and the vacuum of space during the mission of the Russian spacecraft Foton-M3. While the vehicle was in orbit 260 km above the Earth's surface, scientists opened a container containing barrel tardigrades, thereby exposing them to the sun and, in particular, ultraviolet radiation. Upon returning to Earth after rehydration, the animals began to move - they survived.
In the summer of 2011, the TARDIKISS experiment, supported by the Italian Space Agency, sent tardigrades into space to the International Space Station (ISS) on NASA's space shuttle Endeavor. Tardigrades and their eggs were exposed to ionizing radiation and microgravity. Once again, after the animals returned to Earth, the eggs hatched and the animals survived, eating, growing, molting, and reproducing as if they had returned from a nice little cruise through space. What biological resistance mechanisms do tardigrades use to protect themselves under these different stress conditions?
The physiological and biochemical mechanisms of tardigrades that ensure tardigrade endurance are still little known, and to date there is no generally accepted explanation. However, in the past few years, the endurance of tardigrades has attracted the interest of a large number of scientists, who have used new molecular and biochemical tools in their research. It is now clear that the mechanisms underlying anhydrobiosis may contribute to the endurance of tardigrades under other stressful conditions, using different biochemical and physiological mechanisms. The underlying mechanism involves the synthesis of various molecules that act together as bioprotectants: trehalose, sugar, and stress proteins commonly called “heat shock proteins.”
When dehydration occurs, the loss of a significant amount of water usually leads to the destruction of cells and tissues and, consequently, the death of the body. In the case of tardigrades, there is a relationship between the acquisition of resistance to dehydration and the biosynthesis of trehalose as tardigrades accumulate this sugar during dehydration. The synthesis and accumulation of trehalose protects tardigrade cells and tissues by replacing water lost through dehydration. Heat shock proteins, particularly HSP70, appear to act in concert with trehalose to protect large molecules and cell membranes from damage caused by dehydration. Ionizing and ultraviolet radiation destroy large molecules such as DNA and lead to oxidative stress, causing effects similar to accelerated aging.
It is for this reason that the ability of tardigrades to survive intense radiation leads scientists to believe that animals have an effective DNA repair mechanism and a protective antioxidant system. The growing interest of scientists in tardigrades is undoubtedly associated with the possibility of applying the acquired knowledge about dehydration and the mechanisms of frost resistance of tardigrades to the cryopreservation of biomaterials (for example, cells, vaccines, food, etc.). These tiny, invisible animals can help us understand the fundamental principles of the nature of living systems. So be careful when walking on the grass.
But who are they? But by the way, and. Here's another interesting magic of life:
All living organisms require a number of conditions of approximately the same level for normal functioning: an average temperature from -10 to +35 degrees, the presence of liquid water and the absence of external harmful influences, radiation for example. A critical (i.e. sharp and large) change in these conditions for most living beings will mean death. But there is an animal on Earth that literally destroys all our ideas about life and the limits within which it can exist.
This animal - . Tardigrade is a microscopic animal that looks like a tiny bear, which is probably why they were called “little water bears” by their discoverer, the German I. Getze. Their body length can vary from 0.1 to 1.5 millimeters depending on the species. Speaking of species, there are now more than 900 species of tardigrades known to be found around the world in a wide variety of places and conditions. Most tardigrades belong to terrestrial species, but some species prefer the water element and inhabit both small fresh water bodies and seas and oceans.
Tardigrade recognized the toughest creature on earth, no other creature is able to survive in the conditions in which the tardigrade can survive. This tiny animal can easily withstand extremely high and extremely low temperatures, ultra-high pressure, complete lack of moisture, lack of air and vacuum, as well as huge doses of radiation.
To be more specific, tardigrades survive at temperatures ranging from +190 before -279 degrees Celsius, moreover, they are not only able to survive in such extreme conditions, for some species such temperatures are the norm (for tardigrades living near underwater thermal springs, a temperature of 110-120 degrees is quite common).
As for drought, here the “water bears” have distinguished themselves even more noticeably - in the absence of water for a long time, they are capable of falling into anabiosis(cessation or very strong slowdown of all processes in the body, the so-called imaginary death). During suspended animation, their body decreases in size and is covered with something similar to wax in order to retain the smallest traces of moisture. Anabiosis can last up to 2 years, and in order to come to life only a drop of water will be enough.
This is what a tardigrade looks like in a state of suspended animation
A number of experiments by Japanese scientists have confirmed other incredible abilities of tardigrades: - able to withstand maximum pressure 600 MPa (for example, at the bottom of the Martian trench under an 11-kilometer layer of water the pressure is 100 MPa); - transfer the level of radiation to 10 times more than any other animal.
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