The world's tardigrade is the most immortal animal

Indestructible creatures that have survived all mass extinctions

Tardigrades

Tardigrades, colloquially called water bears, are microscopic animals famous for their incredible ability to survive virtually anything — from outer space and extreme temperatures to radiation and even mass extinction events.

They've literally seen everything

Tardigrades have been around for at least 500 million years, making them one of the oldest known animal groups on Earth. They have survived multiple mass extinction events throughout their long history, which speaks to their remarkable resilience and adaptability.

Conquerors

Tardigrades can survive in extreme temperatures — we're talking -272°C to 150°C. These creatures have been found living in the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park and the freezing depths of Antarctica.

No frontier is mighty enough

Tardigrades have demonstrated the ability to withstand the severe conditions of outer space, including exposure to the vacuum, radiation, and extreme temperatures. They can even repair their own DNA.

You can't starve a tardigrade

Tardigrades can survive without water for up to 30 years. When dehydrated, they enter a state called "cryptobiosis," where their metabolism slows down to just 0.01% of the normal rate.

Nature’s most indestructible creature

A process called anhydrobiosis allows tardigrades to enter a state of suspended animation and survive being boiled. They lose all water and shrink, effectively becoming dormant until conditions become favourable again.

It’s never cold enough for a tardigrade

Being frozen solid can't kill tardigrades either. By replacing the water in their bodies with a sugar called trehalose, these ubiquitous creatures prevent ice crystals from forming and damaging their cells.

Omnipresent microbeasts

Tardigrades are found worldwide in moss, lichen, soil, and freshwater habitats, where they play a significant role as decomposers and predators of other microscopic organisms.

An icon

Tardigrades' survival abilities have fascinated scientists and the public, inspiring scientific studies and even a video game mascot.