We have been watching “Cosmos” starring the astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and written by the widow of the star of the first such series that gripped many viewers about 20 years ago. More is known and better understood now and the new stuff is fascinating. Some of the comments and pictures have been about strange aspects of nature, including pictures of a tiny creature who is usually shown to be pink or gray. It took a little research to get the name but it turns out to be “tartigrade”. That is the name of the creature that NASA is in love with because it is so hardy that it makes for a good research subject.
Tardigrades have been known to survive the following extreme conditions:
- temperatures as low as -200 °C (-328 °F) and as high as 151 °C (304 °F);
- freezing and/or thawing processes;
- changes in salinity;
- lack of oxygen;
- lack of water;
- levels of X-ray radiation 1000x the lethal human dose;
- some noxious chemicals;
- boiling alcohol;
- low pressure of a vacuum;
- high pressure (up to 6x the pressure of the deepest part of the ocean)
Oh, yes, it can do without food or water for 10 years straight. Tough!
--
Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
