Category: Nature > Resilience
Tardigrades, often referred to as "water bears," are microscopic creatures renowned for their incredible resilience. These tiny animals can survive extreme conditions that would be lethal to most forms of life, including temperatures as low as -272°C (-458°F) and as high as 150°C (302°F). They achieve this remarkable feat through a process called cryptobiosis, during which they essentially shut down their metabolism and expel almost all the water from their bodies. In this state, tardigrades can endure high levels of radiation, intense pressure, and even the vacuum of space. This ability to enter a dormant state allows them to survive for decades without water, waiting for favorable conditions to return to a living state, making them one of nature's most resilient organisms.