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.
Something that would make Moon Zero-Two look like a cinematic masterpiece.
Wait....these don’t need rescuing, they’re just plain old what we use to call Bad Ass!
God must have really created the universe for Tardigrades, since they can live anywhere in it....apparently.
Youtube has a bunch of videos.
*ping*
In 10 million years, they'll be runnin' this rock. ;^) And they won't even *have* thermostatic controls on anything.
Is that Goofy or Pluto?
Heh
my Rotty dint get ten feet into the new house before he pizzed on the floor...
RRRRRRUUUFFFF !!!
I knew a guy would in Arkansas that had a Dog that pissed in the House all the time. One day I went to their home and they had just gone grocery shopping. We are all carrying bags in and this guy is the first inside. Suddenly I hear him yelling and the grocery bags hit the floor and as I enter i see him holding the dog on the couch with 1 hand and unzipping his pants with the other and he starts pissing on that dog. The dog starts squealing and crying as it gets pissed on!! That doggie doesn’t piss in the house anymore.
Can’t we call them by their more cuddly name of Water Bears?
All yourTardigrades belong to us.
it was the ONLY time he ever did it, but he was surenuff marking his new territory...
might have been last dog in the house pizzed there, who knows
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