The immortal ability of organisms is 500 million years ago

Tardigrade, an ancient creature present on Earth more than 500 million years ago, can survive and breed in harsh cosmic environments, despite the fact that space beams of ion radiation can kill humans. in 15 seconds.

The mystery of the immortal ability of creatures from 500 million years ago

When going out into space without wearing protective gear, people will have pneumothorax because of the lack of air pressure. After that, the human body will swell, the eardrum and capillaries burst, blood will boil, and die after 15 seconds of radiation in the universe.

Tardigrade has 8 legs, fat face with many folds, mouth full of sharp teeth.(Photo: BBC)

However, there is an immortal animal branch, which survives in the outer space called tardigrade, or water bear . In 2007, thousands of tardigrade were mounted on satellites flying into space. After returning to Earth, scientists discovered that they still survived. Even females spawn in space, producing a healthy new bear.

Not only survive in space, water bears survive in some of the harshest places on Earth . Scientists found them at more than 5,500 meters in the Himalayas , or in hot springs in Japan, or on the ocean and Antarctic bottom . They can withstand intense radiation, survive whether heated to 150 degrees Celsius, or freeze at 0 degrees Celsius.

Tardigrade has a scary appearance. They have obese faces with many folds, 8 legs with paws like bears, and their mouths are full of sharp teeth. However, this animal cannot be observed with the naked eye. Under a microscope, they are about 1 mm long.

Until now, scientists have identified about 900 species of tardigrade . Their food is varied, from moss, seaweed, to other animal meat, even homosexual meat.

They are one of the oldest creatures on Earth . Their fossils were found from the Cambrian period more than 500 million years ago, when the first complex animal developed.

German pastor Goeze first discovered them in 1773. Three years later, missionary and scientist Italy Spallanzani discovered their supernatural power. He took soil mud under a microscope, added water, discovered hundreds of superficial bears-like creatures swimming. He named them "il Tardigrado" (slow step), because they moved very slowly.

In fact, the Dutch scientist Leeuwenhoek reported in 1702 to the Royal Society of London about "organisms that exist in the roof gutter". He took dry sediment and poured more water, under the microscope, to find within an hour, many " small creatures " began to work again, swim and crawl around.

In 1948, Italian zoologist Tina Franceschi said, found the tardigrade from a 120-year-old dried moss in the museum. After pouring water in, the animal began to wiggle its front legs. In 1995, people also tried to revive dried water bears eight years ago.

Water bears retract their heads and legs, forming a cocoon to hibernate, surviving through a water-shortage environment.(Photo: Eye of Science)

Live without water

For most animals, especially humans, cannot live without water. However, somehow, the tardigrade still survived without water.

" Water bears can live dry, sure, they have a way to prevent or heal damaged cells due to dehydration, " Boobthby, an extremophile researcher, Northern University. Carolina, USA said. In normal animals, the cells will dry up and crumble because of lack of water.

In 1922, German scientist H.Baumann discovered that water bears exist in water-deficient environments by retracting their heads and 8 legs, like a cocoon. After that, her body turned to deep sleep , stopping all activities, similar to the state of death. It lowers metabolic rate to 0.01% compared to normal, and lasts for decades, works again when exposed to water.

In addition, water bears also have an interesting antioxidant ability . Surviving long in a dry state, the tardigrade AND will be damaged, however, when it wakes up, it can repair AND.

Survive in all temperatures

In 1842, French scientist Doyère tried to heat a water bear at 125 degrees C for several minutes. As a result, it survived. In 1920, Rahm German monk heated them at 151 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes, the water bear revived when exposed to water.

Rahm also tried to soak them in liquid air -200 degrees C for 21 months, and in liquid nitrogen at -253 degrees C for 26 hours, in liquid helium at -272 degrees C for 8 hours. As a result, they resurrected immediately upon contact with water.

Scientists also tested their viability in natural conditions. They took them to Antarctica in 1983, in the area of ​​-89.2 degrees Celsius (the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth). In addition to nature, cold temperatures are not stable, the environment is more harsh than the laboratory.

Some fish species produce anti-freezing proteins , which lower cell freezing points, ensuring that cells do not freeze. However, tardigrade does not have these proteins.

They produce a special chemical that causes ice crystals to form outside the cell, not inside, to protect important molecules.

However, scientists have not yet understood, why they survive in high temperatures. In 1964, they showed a lethal dose of X-rays onto the tardigrade. They still survived. Many of the following experiments show that they can cope with both alpha, gamma and ultraviolet overdose in a normal state.

In addition, Japanese scientists found that they could survive at 600 MPa under dormant conditions. In nature, no animal exists in this pressure.

They brought water bears down to the Pacific ocean floor, at a depth of nearly 11,000 m, the water pressure was 100 MPa, they survived. Under that pressure, proteins and DNA split. The cell membrane made of fat becomes as solid as butter to the refrigerator. Most microorganisms stop metabolizing at 30 MPa, and bacteria cannot withstand the pressure of more than 300 MPa.

Water bears are immortal creatures.(Photo: The Science)

The cost

Going into hibernation is a risky decision, says Bobbthby."That may be the reason many plant and animal species do not evolve the powers of water bears."

" They don't need those powers. They either don't live in a dry environment, or have their own ways of storing water, such as camels that hold water in their backs."

"When a water bear lives dry, it stops metabolism, enters a deep sleep state, and cannot actively avoid danger in the surrounding environment ," Bobby said.

Water bears evolved to adapt to the harshest environment, not even exist on Earth. It may not die of thirst, but will be eaten, making food for bacteria and fungi.