We FINALLY Understand Why Tardigrades Refuse to Die

We've know tardigrades are tough, but new research finally tells us how they do it.
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Check out @microbin_ for some awesome tardigrade footage:

References articles:

0:00 Everyone Loves Tardigrades
1:28 How We Discovered Tardigrades
6:13 How Tardigrades Get Their Superpowers
11:19 Unlocking the Final Secrets of Tardigrades
16:08 How Tardigrades May Save Us

A few people have asked so I've added the info below. Some of these are affiliate links. If you make a purchase it doesn't cost you anything extra, but a percentage of the sale will help support this channel and my work to bringing entrepreneurship into science.

[DrBenMiles]

I'm sorry about the part where I revealed my tardigrade body to the world. I feel uncomfortable about it also... I'm working on it.
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[HighMojo]

Genie, I want to be immortal.
Poof. Now you're a tardigrade.

[tonyrmathis]

Obviously the enemies of our Alien overlords sent us these guys to protect life on earth from total annihilation. Thanks our unknown Alien allies!

[feiryfella]

They're tough, but they're not immortal and they can and do die.Their lifespan is up to two years, usually a few months.Three Body Problem-smart tardigrades!

[christeenhinton]

Very interesting. Thank you. I'm 76 and learn something new every day.

[Th_UnKnOwN_PrO]

Most of the experiments u cited in the beginning actually had varying survival rates. Most if not all of those experiments did NOT have a 100% survival rate. Your "didn't phase them in the slightest" comment just needs some correction.

[sempertard]

Didn't the bad guys try this on The Expanse with the Proto Molecule?

[CodexPermutatio]

These are the bugs that Earth sends to the galactic martial arts tournament held every galactic year.

[Lyle-In-NO]

We can miniaturize dogs. Can we "gigantize" water bears? Would you want one as a pet?

[quartytypo]

Smoke them in a cigar and see how you suddenly stop aging.

[ncdavelife]

10:40 I store desiccated, vacuum-packed yeast in my freezer. It certainly seems to survive desiccation.

[katesisco]

My question then would be, how many other examples of 'ACCIDENTAL' survival skills are there? This supreme set of survival skills seem to be unmatched but, if your theory is correct, there would have to be other equally talented survivors ?

[Kioki-xp]

Hope we get Tardigrades genetics & DNA added to human species, we need to expand out to space.

[c.j.rockwell]

Imagine if Tardigrades were the size of a large dog? They'd be horrifying, practically invincible monsters

[FangPaw]

There is one downside to making humans highly resistant to ionising radiation - it would make all forms of radiotherapy for cancer ineffective. And maybe chemotherapy.
Has anyone tested the ability to of tardigrades to resist mutagens/DNA-damaging chemicals? One would predict that the DNA-protective and repair mechanisms would be equally effective in this scenario, too.

[freddiearguelles]

1:32 The surname Goeze is of German origin and is typically pronounced as “GUR-tsuh” or “GOH-tsuh”, depending on regional accents and variations. The “oe” in German often sounds like the German “ö, ” which is similar to the English “ur” in “burn, ” and the “z” is pronounced like a soft “ts.”

[HerrStern]

In German a Tardigrade is actually called something like Little Bear Animal, which is way more cute.😂😂😂 It's called Bärtierchen

[talvayas]

They feel like a manufactured lifeform. I read too much scifi as a kid.

[ianroseir]

And they help Star Trek Discovery navigate space...

[schitlipz]

Aww, missed an Incredible Hulk pop-culture reference when being irradiated with gamma rays. Otherwise this was both entertaining and educational. Thanks.