Rotifers: Charmingly Bizarre & Often Ignored

We also don't really know what rotifers are... but we'll try to tell you as much as we know!

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Hosted by Hank Green:

Music by Andrew Huang:

Journey to the Microcosmos is a Complexly production.

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[ezlewbt]

Microscopic vacuum cleaner: surviving dehydration.

Biologists: “sleeping beauty!”

[liuser]

I love to imagine the rotifers planning to leave the colony like with little conversations and tearful goodbyes.

[Jim]

Those who came up with this channel's approach and production are to be deeply commended. The fantastic microscopy. The gentle, comfortable audio. The flowing casual-yet-educational scripts. Some folks Didn'tFTBA. Great work. Thank you.

[AllDayBikes]

Hank sounds like he is trying to either seduce the Rotifers or doesn't want to wake up the lil ones.

[zddxddyddw]

A little correction: the rotifers' "jaws" are called the mastax, trophi are each one of the many pieces that, together, form those "jaws".

[elizaalmabuena]

Rotifers are the one microorganism I’ve been able to keep in a petri dish for years... you forgot to mention the nifty horizontal gene replication some species are capable of.

[urbannanni]

I'm a retired nurse. I've been enchanted with microscopic life since I was a 7th grader and got my first peek into a microscope to see the marvelous little wiggly bits. Rotifers, tardigrades, and paramecium have been my favorites. Thank you for this wonderful program!

[evilsharkey]

I was hoping you’d have footage of the predatory synchaeta rotifers. They’re much more badass looking, with some of their cilia fused into curved spike-like structures, and their little trophi look like piranha jaws!

[rotifer]

*Finally I get the respect I deserve!*

[WillMoff]

"imagine this Rotifer..." sorry Hank, I can only imagine it in its hungry hungry hippo mode

[Teefschomp]

That quote gave me chills, something about the acceptance of the unknown in order to appreciate and acknowledge the beauty of this stunningly bizarre creature for a moment is such a beautiful thing. Not often humans will accept they don’t know things while still respecting and loving it. Thank you for giving the rotifers the spotlight!

[prplepuffl]

YES OH MY GOD I LOVE ROTIFERS I DIDNT KNOW WE DIDNT KNOW ABOUT THESE LITTLE OH MY GOD THEYRE SO CUTE WE FOUND ONE IN OUR LAKE WATER THE OTHER DAY I LOVE PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD

[flukislucas]

This is my favorite channel of yours by far. There are really no other channels dedicated to the microbial world with such production.

[newdefsys]

Hi MICO. I love your channel. Can I make a small request. Could you include a small micrometer scale, along with your posted magnification level. It would be very helpful in judging the size of these little creatures. Thanks.

[ultimateo]

I too curl up into a ball when I lack water. It’s a problem.

[HiAdrian]

I think no episode left me as mesmerized as this one. Shots like 3:25 are so incredible, how they sense their environment and _switch on_ like a vacuum cleaner. And the little "organs" you can see inside, wow.

[gtd]

Could you guys do and episode on Microscopic archaeology. How does that even work? Do they have to take thin slivers of rock or something? Or do they like look like in ice cores or crystal inclusions?

[thetomnivore]

I studied bdelloid rotifers for my MSc - I put them in a Mars simulation chamber and they survived it like a champ. Glad to see rotifers getting their own episode!

[roha]

I love to come back to this video every so often. The way he narrates is just so soothing and interesting, and the rotifers themselves are so strangely cute, like adorable tiny and mysterious aliens.

[jaythomas]

Me: *about to go to bed*
This channel: We'll see about that.