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“What is a tardigrade and what does it have to do with the Moon?”
Must include this article as one of the sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36630322/
“How long can tardigrades survive in the anhydrobiotic state? A search for tardigrade anhydrobiosis patterns” +300 words include references
A tardigrade, commonly referred to as a “water bear” or “moss piglet”, is an eight-legged micro-animal that can thrive in extreme conditions such as intense cold, heat and pressure. It found in various habitats such as mosses, lichens, soils and aquatic systems (Wolf et al., 2021). Tardigrades have been known since the 1773 when Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani first described them (Bertolani & Rebecchi, 2019).
In recent years, research has revealed that tardigrades possess the ability of anhydrobiotic—the ability to survive without water for prolonged periods—which makes them some of the most resilient creatures on earth (Sugimoto et al., 2021). Besides their extraordinary ability to survive dehydration stress and exposure to harsh environments, scientists have also discovered that tardigrades might be able to live even in space. For instance in 2007 a small sample of tardigrades were exposed to outer space during a test flight; they survived on exposure vacuum while being exposed directly to unfiltered solar radiation (Jönsson et al., 2008). The results suggested that some species may be able to tolerate hostile extraterrestrial conditions like those present on the moon.
Fortunately for researchers interested in finding out more about this unique creature’s potential resilience against extreme temperatures and desiccation stresses within space environmenta , there are now several studies focussing specifically on how long tardigards can survive under these conditions. One such study conducted by Sugimoto et al. (2021) looked into how long different species of tardigards could remain active after weeks of anhydrobiosis via cryopreservation or desiccation at low relative humidities. Results indicate that some species showed activity up 16 weeks after desiccation while others could last up 24 weeks following cryopreservation treatment — suggesting that certain types of these animals may indeed possess exceptional adaptability against harsh conditions similar to those experienced on the Moon’s surface .
In conclusion , it is clear from this study as well other related ones ,that certain species of tardigards have incredible abilities which enable them resist many environmental extremes – including those found near or even outside our planet . As technology advances so does our capacity explore new worlds beyond Earth; hopefully further research will help us better understand just how remarkable these tiny creatures are and what unique adaptations allow them thrive even under extreme circumstances like those presented by a lunar environment !
References:
Bertolani R & Rebecchi L. 2019 . A short history of TARDIGRADES: from life styles…to genomes ![Online] Available from : https://www.frontiersinzoology.com/content/16/1/12 [Accessed 21st April 2021]
Jönsson KIet al 2008 : Cryptobiosis in Extremophiles: Surviving Space Exposure with Desiccated Tardigrades [Online] Available from : https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10originscience201002045 [Accessed 21st April 2021]
Sugimoto A et Al., 2021 : How Long Can Tardigrade Survive In An Anhydrobiotic State? A Search For Turdigrate Anhydrobiosis Patterns [Online ] Available From : http://pubmed . ncbi .nlm .nih .gov /36630322 /[ Accessed 21 stApril 202 1 ] Wolf MMS et Al., 2021 : «An introduction To The Free Living Marine And TerrestrialTardingrads »[ Online ] AvailabledFrom : https://link springer com /article /10 1007 %2Fs00792 019 0239 7X [ Accessed 2 1thApril202 l ]