Tardigrades, Plucky Microorganisms That Can Survive in Space

Motherboard posted this fascinating video on Mike Shaw, a self-described naturalist who studies tardigrades, hardy microorganisms that can survive extreme conditions including the vacuum of space. Tardigrades (aka Water Bears or Moss Piglets) can enter a state of suspended animation—cryptobiosis—which allows them to survive temperature and pressure extremes, radiation, and other lethal conditions.