Posted on 08/22/2019 12:22:31 AM PDT by Windflier
There may be life on the Moon after all: virtually indestructible beings that can withstand extreme radiation, sizzling heat, the coldest temperatures of the universe, and decades without food.
These terrifying-sounding creatures aren't aliens but in fact microscopic Earthlings known as tardigrades, who likely survived a crash landing on the lunar surface by Israel's Beresheet probe in April, the organization responsible for their trip said Tuesday.
Based on an analysis of the spacecraft's trajectory and the composition of the device the micro-animals were stored in, "we believe the chances of survival for the tardigrades...are extremely high," Nova Spivack, founder of the Arch Mission Foundation, told AFP.
The non-profit is dedicated to spreading backups of human knowledge and Earth's biology throughout the Solar System, a quest it likens to the creation of an "Encyclopedia Galactica" as a gift to the future.
"Tardigrades are ideal to include because they are microscopic, multicellular, and one of the most durable forms of life on planet Earth," Spivack said.
He added that the diminutive creatures, which are under a millimeter (0.04 inches) in size, had been dehydrated to place them in suspended animation and then "encased in an epoxy of Artificial Amber, and should be revivable in the future."
The tardigrades were stored inside a "Lunar Library," a nanotechnology device that resembles a DVD and contains 30-million-page archive of human history viewable under microscopes, as well as human DNA.
Spivack is confident this too survived impact -- but it doesn't represent the first genetic code or life forms to be left behind on the barren celestial body.
That distinction belongs to the DNA and microbes contained in the almost 100 bags of feces and urine left behind by American astronauts during the Apollo lunar landings from 1969-1972.
Oh!
The huge manatee!
On the moon...
Just great. Some alien race is going to take the Apollo DNA and cross it with the Tardigrades, zap it with their enlarging ray gun, and then send them back to Earth. This can’t end well.
This sure sounds like the beginning of a bad sci-fi movie from the 60’s.
There are already a lot of retardigrades in Congress.
I remember a South Park episode about these things.
AOC is a tough lil b××÷÷
Where's Ralph Kramden when we need him?
I, for one, welcome our new tardigrade overlords.
But are they bigger on the inside?
That’s okay.
We have Godzilla.
Maybe we could convince power hungry Democrats to allow us to dehydrate them to put them into suspended animation and encase them in artificial amber so they “can be revived and come back to power in the distant future.”
The Goodies had a to deal with a moon bunny invasion.
They’re still small on the outside.
...or the itty-bitty manatee!
won’t end well. indestructible radiated,colossal, space travelling, Tardigrade Masters. and they want their lunch - Now.
won’t end well. indestructible radiated,colossal, space travelling, Tardigrade Masters. and they want their lunch - Now.
we HAD a Hulk...
“’Indestructible’ tardigrades may be alive on the Moon”
They likely had dirt on the Clintons. The moon was the only safe place they could go to stay alive.
Do they taste like chicken?
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