Tardigrades: water bears in space (BBC)

eppur_se_muova

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Mon May-16-11 11:57 PM
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Tardigrades: water bears in space (BBC)

In 2007, a little known creature called a tardigrade became the first animal to survive exposure to space.

It prevailed over sub-zero temperatures, unrelenting solar winds and an oxygen-deprived space vacuum.

Yesterday, this microscopic cosmonaut has once again hitched a ride into space on the NASA shuttle Endeavour.

Its mission: to help scientists understand more about how this so-called "hardiest animal on Earth" can survive for short periods off it.

Tardigrades join other microscopic organisms selected to be part of a project into extreme survival.

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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/12855775

Posted for the pro-tardigrade faction of DU (you know who you are).

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villager

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Tue May-17-11 01:30 AM
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1. "Tardigrade"/"Tardis" -- coincidence!?

:shrug:

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