Tardigrades can survive a decade without water, and outer space
Tardigrades (water bears) are microscopic animals that enter a state called cryptobiosis when conditions become harsh — they expel almost all their water, retract their legs, and become a tiny barrel of dehydrated matter. In this state they can survive temperatures from -272°C to 150°C, radiation 1,000 times lethal to humans, the vacuum of space, and pressures six times those in the deepest ocean. In 2019, a spacecraft carrying tardigrades crashed on the Moon — they may still be alive up there.
It challenges every assumption about what life requires — no water, no atmosphere, no protection, extreme temperature. Tardigrades say yes to all.
“Tardigrades (tiny 8-legged animals) can survive outer space, a decade without water, and radiation 1000x lethal to humans. Some might be alive on the Moon right now. 🐻 #OddlyHuman”