Bärtierchen - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Bärtierchen, also known as water bears or tardigrades, are microscopic animals that belong to the phylum Tardigrada.
- 2. These tiny creatures are found in various environments, including mosses, lichens, soil, and marine sediments, as well as in the deep sea and on mountaintops.
- 3. Bärtierchen have a unique appearance, with four pairs of legs ending in claws, a segmented body, and a distinctive barrel-shaped form.
- 4. Despite their small size, Bärtierchen are incredibly resilient and have the ability to survive extreme conditions that would be fatal to most other organisms.
- 5. Bärtierchen can withstand temperatures ranging from -272°C to 150°C, pressures six times greater than those found in the deepest ocean trenches, and radiation levels hundreds of times higher than those lethal to humans.
- 6. One of the reasons for their remarkable resilience is their ability to enter a state of suspended animation known as cryptobiosis, during which they lose almost all water in their bodies and become almost completely dehydrated.
- 7. In this state, Bärtierchen can survive for years or even decades without food or water, and can withstand harsh environmental conditions until they are rehydrated and able to resume normal activity.
- 8. Bärtierchen are also known for their unique DNA repair mechanisms, which help them repair damage to their genetic material caused by environmental stressors.
- 9. Despite their hardiness, Bärtierchen are not invincible and can still be killed by certain extreme conditions, such as exposure to high concentrations of toxic chemicals or prolonged desiccation.
- 10. The study of Bärtierchen has attracted interest from scientists and researchers due to their ability to survive in extreme environments, which has implications for astrobiology, biotechnology, and other fields.