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This week I'm interviewing an expert on one of the most incredible animals: tardigrades! These itty bitty babies are also known as water bears or moss piglets -- I think they look like potato walruses. Tardigrades are known for being super small (1.5mm at their longest) and near indestructible. They can survive extreme heat, extreme cold, high altitudes, deep seas, dehydration, radiation, and exposure to outer space. I already have a LOT of questions. Tell me what you want to know.

 

Comments

Matt Hirschl

I love them. Why is their body shaped that way????

Dave Brewer

Are there multiple species of them?

Christine Hurley

My son Dougie wants to know if they could survive a black hole. Also can they kill you. And lastly, how do you get one. 😅

Sydney Koenig

Wait how did we figure out the space thing??

Serena D'Souza

This question is from my 4 year old (we were discussing tardigrades yesterday), what do they eat?

Dave Brewer

How come I'd never heard of them before they hit the news a few years ago?

Mona Finlayson

If water bears aren't bears why are they call bears? Are water bears even animals?

Hope Madeline

what kinds of moss do they live in? is it like every patch of moss could have a tardigrade in it or just some species? do they live anywhere else? IF I PET THE MOSS AM I HURTING THE TARDIGRADES!?!? cuz i love to give miss a good pat but i’ll stop if it’s squishing them 😭 can they even be squished???

JC

What's their evolutionary lineage like? Did any animals evolve from them?

Lynette Dávila

Have there been research to see if they can survive a place like chernobil for prolonged periods of time?

Cate Muenker

Ever since the cat in the hat taught me (and my kids) about these wonderful creatures, I’ve been in awe of their abilities! Can they be bought as pets like sea monkeys? Asking for a friend.

wicker bitch

I picture their weird little mouthparts making a Maggie Simpson style sucking noise. Do they actually suck? Or what's going on there?

Julia Hutton

Where is the most extreme place they have been able to survive?

Rose

Is there a limit to what they can experience? Like have humans found any possible threshold for the mighty tardigrade

Patricia Evans

What does your logistics think of the tardigrade story line in Star Trek Discovery?

Hope Madeline

also like is the only way they can die basically old age or starvation? does anything prey on them? if we sent them into outer space on a patch of moss would they live for the rest of time??

Sara in Montana

I have always wondered why their faces look so funny?

Kyle

I don't have any questions but I'm so excited!

Mariann

FTQA: Why oh why are they so fucking cute?!! And how can they survive in space? What is the longest time we have seen them "hibernate" if that is what they do? I have so many more questions!

Eating dog hair for a living

How were they discovered, what's their funtion/purpose in this world? What are those flipper looking things on their stumps used for? Do they have "eyes"? And why do they look like a pale dried-up turd?

Hannah Matousek

What is the tardigrade life cycle like? How old can they live?

Audrey

Have they evolved over time?

fleshverse

How do they move around? What are those little tiny hairs on their "feet" for?

Raja

I LOVE them! Fascinating creatures! I saw one once while looking for/at plankton and only after that heard about their survival capacity in space. Is there only one species or are there many species of tardigrade? I've always wondered if the one I saw was THE tardigrade or if there are lots of different species with different capacities for survival. (Raja is pronounced "Raya" as in rhymes-with-papaya)

Brian Smith

How is it possible for them to survive in space?

Kathleen Regovich

What's the craziest thing a tardigrade has ever done?

corvidthey

How long do they live? Can they survive anywhere? Most importantly, why are they so goddamn cute?

Kyla C (KAI-luh, rhymes with Myra or Lyla)

Very excited!! How do they like move around in the moss (or wherever they live)? Is it more like a bear or like idk a lizard or a snake or something else? Basically, how do they use all those legs at that scale??

Susan Lin

Does a tardigrade have toe beans? Important question! 🙋🏻‍♀️

Raja

When is comes to classification, what other organisms are they most closely related to? (Raja is pronounced "Raya", like papaya)

Bel Jensen-Hill

Where did the nicknames water bear and moss piglet come from and which would you say is more accurate?

Felix Lasselle

If they were scaled up to the size of a cat or dog would all their cool superpowers still work?

Jackie G

they live in water, does that make them fish? crustaceans? I really just don't understand the concept of tiny animals.

Bethany J

FTQA! I just learned that Tardigrades have their very own PHYLUM???? How many species are there? Are they all indestructible? And do they all look like tiny leggy wombats in puffer jackets? I’m so excited for this one!

Kate Oldham

(First time question asker unless you use my embarrassing coffee question) Could we/have we already tried sending them to space?

MJ Mejstrik

How are they the undisputed champions of intermittent fasting? I can’t go 3 hours without food or my emotional support water bottle.

Mark McPhillips

I remember a news article about them accidentally being crashed on the moon. If that's true, would they survive indefinitely until future lunar colonists unsuspectingly find them one day?

Pearl Ramone

Because they look like microscopic mammals, part of me wants to befriend one. Do these guys have personalities or am I just confused because they have feet looking things?

Aki

What do we know about the oldest Tardigrade ever found?

Kurt Swanson

FTQA! What are the chances of the tardigrades still being alive on the moon from the crashed probe in 2019?

Logan Muller

omg omg omg. i literally screamed when i read this call for questions because i love tardigrades that much. anyways what is their place in science, more specifically what research is being done on them that may be beneficial to us less cool beings???

Lexi Gutshall

How accurate is the song Tardigrade Song by Cosmo Sheldrake?

Joy Kotheimer

What sensory do they use most to navigate/experience their environment most?

Eating Spaghetti in Bed

FTQA - What role do they play in our ecosystem? Like, WHY are they? So excited about this one! 😍🧸

G Connolly

FTQA: me and my bestie are wondering if tardigrades can learn/be trained in any capacity? Like could one have a little waterbear circus?

Rebecca Davidoff

How do tardigrades see the world? How many different species of tardigrades are there?

Sophie de Valle

First time question asker. I am a dentist and I would love to know if they have teeth! And if they do what are they like ? Thank you Alie, so excited for this one.

Sarah Williamson

What makes tardigrades able to survive such extreme conditions?

Erin Everton

Why are their bodies shaped like that?

Renee K.

Where do they live? If they can survive basically anywhere, why are they not everywhere? Or, are they???

Chrysalis Ashton

How long do they live in “normal” conditions? How long can they live in extreme conditions?

Nana From Canada

I have a Tardigrade Zoo in a sealed glass bottle with moss, some water and it is exposed to sunlight. Could they multiply to the point that I would notice in my tiny zoo? (The bottle is labelled 'Tardigrade Zoo', in case anyone is in doubt what the glass bottle in my kitchen window is about!)

Carley Cross

Are they as hardy as a cockroach? And why are they so cute when they don’t have a face?

Dr Laura M Smith

What did they evolve from? How do we know they aren't tiny extra-terrestrials? What adaptations do they have to survive in extreme environments? Will they outlive us on Earth? Can they communicate with eachother? Are they plotting our demise...?

Siri Gossman

FTQA:! WHY ARE THEY SOOOOO CUTE? Also, 8 legs, WHY? Is that some primal perfect optimal walking number of legs? How many types are there? Is there anywhere they AREN'T found??

Jeanette-o-saur

Seconding this question. Why tiny walrus spacesuit? Why such snoot?

Michael Kovens

Where did they evolve from? So small and prokaryotic-like, but so animal-like in form and behaviors

rowantree

How old are tardigrades? I’m fascinated by the panspermia theory and am wondering if tardigrades and their resiliency in extreme environments can tell us anything about early life on earth and how it came to be?

Greendesertdog

When I discovered this podcast, I loved it so much that I went back and started at the beginning. I've been listening to old episodes (up to spring 2020 now) but I will definitely want to catch this one as soon as it comes out! First time question asker - what kind of nervous system do tardigrades have? And what the heck is a hydrostatic skeleton??

Jeanette-o-saur

What's going on inside that space suit? Do they have a circulatory system? Organs? Fairy dust and black holes? What makes a tardigrade tardigrade?

George Koris

What do tardigrades eat? And do they have eyes?

Hannah McCain

What part do they play in their ecosystem?

Nicky G

How can they survive in space?!?

Yuri

Can they really seed life across the universe???? Can they survive a asteroid hit on chunks that get thrown out into space? (Yuri - beauty without the b)

Nana From Canada

Hi Alie: I have a Tardigrade Zoo. It's a small glass bottle with cork stopper, moss, water and is exposed to sunlight. Since tardigrades are everywhere, I figure I captured some when I gathered wild moss from a log in the forest. Will the tardigrades multiply so much in their zoo home that I would be able to notice changes or movement in the tiny bottle?

Aych

1. has the ologist seen the short trek Ephraim and DOT 2. what did the ologist think of Ephraim and DOT

Andrew McKelvey

My 7 year old daughter, Izzy, absolutely loves tardigrades and she has 2 questions: (1) why are they called water bears? (2) why can't you see their eyes?

Waylo

I see that tardigrades consume plant cells, algae and smaller invertebrates. Does anything prey on tardigrades? Do we know how they control their metabolism? And how do they move into a dehydrated state safely?

Emily Hurd

I second the 7 year old Izzy, what kind of bears were they looking at when they named this after a bear?

Levi Morris

How do we know that tardigrades didn't come from outerspace and start all life on earth?

NJ Baker

Tardigrades are almost as cool as this podcast! Do they interact with other critters? Is it a mutually positive or negative interaction? And can I get one as a pet? Because I think it would be like a parrot or better - it could be passed on to children and grandchildren, etc., etc.

Alice Rubin

I love it!!! Are tardigrades conscious?

Voxothoth

What's their role in the ecosystem, and does it change between the drastically different environments they live in?

Kieran H

What is happening in their tiny little scary mouths? Do they have teeth? Is it just a hole that sucks things up?

Alice Rubin

Why do they exist and are they going to outlast us all???

Odd Octopus

OMG! My mind is blown and my night has been made knowing that an expert in this field exists and it’s happening on my favorite podcast!!! Do they live in groups or pods or just floating around on a solo mission? Well do they float in whatever is around them or can they control their movement. It looks like they have nails, so they? Do they get super long nails if so and how do they wear them down? I’ve always heard they never die so are all the ones here the ones here since their existence? Therefore their population only increases,,, and how do they populate. Do they know they are the cutest thing despite having a face that looks like an anus

Aly V

I heard that they have courtship routines during their molting/mating process. What does that even look like? Are there chemical signals involved? And has the ologist observed it before?

Organic Free-Range Lily

The 2018 paper "Cause of Cambrian Explosion - Terrestrial or Cosmic?" suggests that at least some life on Earth may have been the result of panspermia, and it specifically mentions tardigrades and asks - how on Earth could something like this evolve here? (Pun very much intended.) What's your opinion on this? Is it possible tardigrades had once hitched a ride on an asteroid from another solar system?

Autumn Knol

Is their fatness just like ....a puffy survival suit? When did humanity learn that they exist and how?

Between Dumplings

What's with those feet? Feathery or claw-like? Do they use them to sense what they cannot see? Is their size related to extreme environments they live in and/or some evolutionary benefit, like escaping their predator? Who or what eats them? What do they eat and how do they hunt?

Lex Clearwater

my mother would also like to know this ^

Annabelle

Where are they???

Zed Shirogane

Do tardigrades have any symbiotic relationships with other organisms? Since they live in such harsh environments, do they get parasites that can survive those environments by living inside tardigrades?

fleeby

Why do we love them so much? They are the charismatic megafauna of the microscopic world.

Marla Kaseff

First time question- My 13 year old niece asked “Are tardigrades found in common water sources? (like drinking water, tap water, lakes, etc)”

Olivier Calas

How long have they been studied and what’s their life expectancy?

Amber Pineda

Is there an evolutionary reason they are that shape or have that many legs. Also why are they so cute and so fast when you’re looking at them under a microscope?

Riley M

Can they taste? What senses do they have, and from that, what senses can we infer are necessary for survival?

Jacob Shepherd

How did they even evolve? Like, how does something evolve, and happen to be able to survive exposure in space?

Riley M

Would you rather fight 1 million water bear sized bears or 1 bear sized water bear?

Aaron Jozsef

Sooo, what eats tardigrades? If they are basically indestructible... Where are they from?

Elliot Feeling

FTQA🖤 I literally just started crocheting my first tardigrade so this feels very serendipitous. Just wondering what their life cycle is like— how long do they live and how do they reproduce? Would they be present in moss up here in Canada? Also when will there be a tardigrade emoji

Colby Evans

Question from my high school kid, Chase: So, why their face butthole?

Kol b'Isha/Voice Within Woman

Do they have a gender? Can they see? Hear? Smell? What about all those little feetsies with those big crazy claws? How do they walk? Do they walk? If they walk, what does their gait look like?

Julie Scott

Dear Aly, Why?Why, why, why, WHY?! Why does the tardigrade exist? Are they cute? Yes. Are they annoying? You better believe it! I’m a retired seventh grade science teacher. My friends and I created the tournament of extinction. It was fun, engaging, and exciting, until the tardigrade reared its pudgy little head. There were arguments! And tears! Until we finally had to ban the tardigrade and all of its adaptations from the tournament… Forever! Seriously, how does an organism evolve to have such extreme adaptations. Like is it true that it can live on the moon? And if so, how did it adapt to the moon without actually living there?

Melissa Hart

I just power-washed all the cobwebs and dead leaves and moss off my rock wall. Now I feel like an asshole. Did I just kill hundreds of tardigrades?

Cheryl W

If someone says "my totem animal is a tardigrade," what does that mean, mythologically speaking?

Scalebar

Are they in decline? I had a couple of reliable hunting spots but the last couple of years my students haven't found any at all.

Yngvi

What is an estimated population density of tardigrades on Earth? How many genera/species are there based on the current data?

Justin Saucedo

How do we splice their DNA with human DNA? Too many of my friends and family are dying.

Rosie S.

Tardigrades in space! 🚀 🌖 are there tardigrades chillin’ in space? (outside of earth’s orbit)

Yngvi

Can you comment on damage suppressor protein and are there any plans of synthesizing it and using it for whatever?

Rebecca Fitzgibbon

To our knowledge, are they being impacted by climate change? Rising tides lift all water bears?

Doug Paice

How many species are there?

Doug Paice

What environments can they be found in? How much do the specialise?

Rachel Guthrie

A good friend of mine asks: “How do they know tardigrades can survive outer space? Like, are there details on the time someone took them up on a shuttle?”

RaeBayBay

How do they reproduce???!! Do they require copulation? Do they mate for life? Pls give any info on tardigrade sex!!

Verena Runstadler

Is there any evidence of tardigrades on other planets?

Amy Vanko

Tardigrades: what the actual fuck?? Also, which is the best name? Moss piglet or water bear? (Answer: moss piglet) And, where would I find all the research videos of them just living life? But for real, what do we know about their internal structures? Is their outside surface like an exoskeleton a la an armadillo? Or soft like a marshmallow? Do they reproduce sexually or asexually? At what rate? What does a pregnant tardigrade look like? How many offspring at one time? Do they have tardigrade societies? Or when you’re that small, the closest neighboring tardigrade is like the equivalent of being halfway across the globe? If you freaky fridayed a tardigrade who lives in one end of the most extreme environment possible with one who lives at the other end, would they even know? (Do they all have all the same crazy adaptations? Or do they depend on fate to decide if they’ll be born the radiation-immune one, and if they are, it means they didn’t get the I-can-survive-space gene? What branch of the phylogenetic tree are they on? Omg I am so PUMPED for this episode!!!!!

Björn Fredberg

What is the evolutional benefit of being to goddang cute? This is usually reserved for babies

Björn Fredberg

Since they live in most water, how many water bears do we drink on a daily basis?

Björn Fredberg

What family of animals are they? They have eight legs, but are they related to spiders?

Amy Vanko

+1 and… What are some examples of smaller invertebrates?

Jim Mowat

How did tardigrade evolve to be so unique and different from any other creature? Or do they have relatives that we just are not very familiar with that have so many unique characteristics? (First time q)

Kellie Due

Why are they so freakishly cute?!?!

Gwen Hughes

First time question-asker: why are they so indestructible? Surely evolution couldn't have foreseen a situation where a tardigrade ends up in literal space!

Euan Munro

Seems like we do a lot of weird stuff to Tardigrades to see if they survive. How did scientists first realise they were so hard to kill?

Corinna Bruce

What makes them so successful compared to other microbeasties? Why have they survived relatively unchanged for so long? Technically I’m a first time question asker, but you did read out a piece of my adhd advice!

Mama Bee Nerd

Omg omg omg omg!!!!! THIS... this is THE episode! My 8 yr old (now 9) daughter, Leilani and I did a tartigrade hunt this last spring. We collected moss, lichen, and water samples, but discovered that I payed too much for her microscope. I bought her an even more expensive new one with an oil objective, but we've yet to figure out how to get the higher objectives to work. We may just have to use the Uber expensive microscope at the clinic I work for. Anywho, our questions: 1. Are they specialized to their environment? (Some groups evolved to live in clouds, while others to survive toxic environments?) 2: We know we should know this, but what do they ACTUALLY eat? What does it mean that they eat the "fluid from bacteria?" 3: What are they truly evolved from? It seems like they're that odd lil group in highschool that doesn't fit into any category. "Not jocks, but strong a.f. Not preppy, but we cute as can be. Not nerds, but somehow we figured out the survival game better than all y'all. " Just that little isolated group in the corner of the lunchroom, yet popular on the sly. 3: On that note, what the heck is their social life like??? We've read up on their reproductive methods, but need know more. Are they solitary until reproductive behavior? Do they have friends?Family? Leilani also wants to know if they sleep, how and when, and since they have brains, do they dream? We must know EVERYTHING!!! Thank you Alie, and thank you ologist!!!

Tania Magic Fingers

Ahh I saw the notification in my email and saw Tardi and my brain jumped ahead and celebrated, as I thought oh Ali has found an ologist for the Tardis and Dr Who!

Kevin Tiemeyer

FTQA, Any chance the ones that crashed onto the moon could have survived?

Meagan Walker

How do they reproduce? Could there be little tardigrade nests around?

Meagan Walker

They look like floppy baked potatoes - if we could touch one, what would it feel like?

BeckytheSassySeagrassScientist

So many questions!! 1) How?? 2) Do these beebees feel pain? 3) Did you see the tardigrade episode of Star Trek Discovery and how are we feeling about it? 4) Long shot: Tardigrades are tiny weird adorable buddies who can unexpectedly survive crazy stuff... Naked mole rats are weird adorable slightly larger buddies who can unexpectedly survive weird stuff... Connection?

Imogen Lovell

How did tardigrades evolve? Did they start big and get smaller and smaller? Why did they look at that specific evolutionary niche and think, "yes, that's the niche for me"? If all the tardigrades in the world suddenly disappeared how would it affect wider ecosystems?

Hailee Kirby

Im so excited to learn all about these little guys! A question i have is: If tardigrades are so indestructible, are they being studied for any human health related things?

Melanie Metzger

What is their purpose; how do they fit into the circle of life on this (and quite possibly other) planet?

Pavka34

The Tardigrade song by Cosmo Sheldrake! What does the expert think of it?

Pavka34

I read somewhere that the it was determined tardigrades probably couldn’t survive riding a meteor to earth from space. However is there a small chance they’re extraterrestrial in origin?

Pavka34

What feeds on tardigrades? Do they have any predators to watch out for?

Pavka34

I know they’re tough but are tardigrades impacted by climate change change?

Björn Fredberg

How can you tell a tardigrade is happy? Can they even smile with that sucker? I bet they would love a good pun or dadjoke. "If you are still waiting for results from your biology tes about small water fauna, what do you got?" "Dad, no, please stop" "... Tardy grades"

Björn Fredberg

Their physical appearance isn't very similar to other marine animals... do they have any close relatives? What are their family reunions like?

Britt Gilley

Are they tiny aliens from another planet?

Vita Trincali

After swimming, have I come out of the water wearing tardigrades and not known?

Emmett M Wald

Not a question, just a recommendation for Cosmo Sheldrake’s “Tardigrade Song”!!

Emmett M Wald

omg lol i just came here to say the same thing!! ❤️

Jean Pompeo

I was going to recommend the song too and ask if they liked it :)

Emmett M Wald

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WATER BOTTLE #same

Jean Pompeo

Do tardigrades and moss have a symbiotic relationship? Are they generally considered pests, beneficial, or neither to a moss's health? Are the number of tardigrades that can be found on a moss an indicator of health in some way?

Emma P

(First time question asker here) In short: are they aliens?! If not, what evolutionary pressures could have created these little beautifuls that can survive space travel, radiation and all other typically-unaliving activities?! So excited for this episode and friggin love you, Dad Ward

Faith Stemmler

Soooo maaanny questions!!! I am fascinated with these little critters and their superb adaptability. Two main questions I have for you are 1) Do we have an understanding of how/ when they evolved or who their closest living relative may be? 2) What is currently being studied on this species and why? Thank you Dad Ward!! You're the absolute best!

Julia Casey

If we could take some snippets of tartigrade DNA to incorporate into our own bodies, what would be the best ones to take?

Ja Jo: Art & Craft

Do they have any predators to worry about? Do they get sick?

Danae Sprouse

(Duh-nay) I ordered some from a lab but I can't seem to keep them alive to show my students under the microscope. What can I do to give them an environment to thrive and keep them as my class pets.

BolognaShoes

exactly my question! WHY SO CUTE?!

Marc Rubin

Have scientists figured out any of the biological mechanisms for their resilience? Is there any research on adapting these mechanisms to human medicine? Also, not to sound like a broken record, but please do an episode on veterinary gerontology with Dr Ashley Portmann of Home Together Vet!! https://www.instagram.com/p/C6ouWv_OUJ5/?igsh=MWlmNnkzdGU0MXUycw==

Matt Ceccato

How many tardigrades are living on someone's human face at any one time?

Susan Singley

AHHH! Tardigrades! Why are they so cute!

sspela

Given that they are basically indestructible, how long can they actually live if left alone to lead a good life? What are their little “talons” for? Do they get wrinklier with time? Is there only one species of them or are there more? Where can we find them and how can we keep them as happy pets? Do there girl-tardies and boy-tardies? What does their reproduction cycle look like? And where can we get the cutest tardigrade merch?? And not a question, but we actually named our team at work Team Tardigrades because of these awesome little creatures! 💛

Eliana Weiss

First time question asker! How did we learn about their indestructability? Who was the first person to describe them and discover their superpowers?

Margaret Downs

Asking as a biochemist, what is it about their proteins and other building blocks that makes them so stable?

Olga Kolesnikova

Why are they so small? Were they always small or did they get smaller as they evolved?

Dave Langlinais

Oooh, I've got a good one (assuming you're even able to see this, among the HUNDREDS of other questions already posted, good god!) Seeing how tardigrades are eutelic (ie, they retain the exact same number of cells in their body throughout their development), how is it that they are able to resist hard radiation so well? Radiation rips chunks directly off of DNA strands, so it stands to reason that having such a rigidly defined body composition (always having the exact same number of cells) would be a huge liability. Clearly that's not the case, so - what is the 'secret' of tardigrades' crazy-good radiation resistance? How do they prevent/repair cellular damage?

Miranda Panda

If they were big enough to pet, what would they feel like?

Miranda Panda

If they are nearly translucent, why do all the pictures make them look pinkish brown?

Miranda Panda

What animals are they related to?

Miranda Panda

What's the etymology behind their name?

Miranda Panda

I think I saw another comment saying some live in clouds....what???

Alli B

Are they all around us? (Like in the moss and stuff in our yards?)

Erin White

How do they reproduce? I hate to say 'show me the dick,' but....

Erin White

I promise I'm not laughing at you, but it is kind of amazing that you're having the problem of this famously unkillable thing consistently dying on you. I hope it works out!!

David Villafranco

Are their potentially tardigrades inside us just living their best lives in my gut?

Average_pi

How many toes do they have? Also are they silly (do they have personalities) ?

mish the fish

how accurate (scientifically) was the episode of south park with tardigrades?

Julia Bingham

Omg I used to lie awake wondering about tardigrades for HOURS when I first learned about them! How did we figure out that these adorable tiny teddy beans are so resilient?? Are they extremophiles, or do they just happen to be uber-hardy? Do all species share this hardiness or are some better equipped than others for specific extremes? Why would they develop such resilience when otherwise living in soft squishy insulated protective moss? Is it a holdover from living in an ancient world of more extremes?

Julia Bingham

Evolutionarily speaking, how old are they? I know they predate dinosaurs, but just how far back do they go? Are they functionally the same as the were hundreds of millions of years ago? Have they always been so so smol or was there once upon a time bigger squishy spider-pig barrels roaming ancient mossscapes??

Julia Bingham

If life developed on other planets with water that some early animal-like life forms would resemble tardigrades, since they can handle such extremes?

Britt Carp

My 11 (very soon to be 12) year old student Penny Casaletto wants to know: “What do they think, if they think at all? (Do they remember)?” P.S. all of my students request that this PLEASE be made into a Smologies!! We ❤️ water bears!!

Gabrielle Charbonnet

Are they from outer space, with a mission to eventually take over the world, one tiny bit at a time? Should we get used to bowing to our tardigrade overlords?

Mark Adams

FTQA. If a tardigrade is tardy to school, what kind of grades does it get? Sorry. I’ll show myself out.

Carrie Cimo

What is their primary mechanism for sensing and navigating their environment?

Carrie Cimo

How long is their lifespan and how far do they travel in their lifetime? Do they remain in the same or near by patches of moss, or do they mobilize with water flows over moss or by other means?

Carrie Cimo

Do they live solitary lives or are there little colonies of tardigrades in moss patches?

Carrie Cimo

Do they only live in moss, or do they inhabit other environments as well?

Valerie Bertha

When we are conducting our waste water treatment lab at school, Finding Water bears tell us different things about the water such as low ammonia levels and high dissolved oxygen. Could you share other examples where we look for water bears and what they tell us?

Alli B

Are they an animal you’d be able to spy with a loupe? Or would you need at least a microscope? (Is this a dumb question? I bought a loupe after the bryology episode haha)

Jessica Chance

What leads to a super tough creature like a tardigrade when a lot of us get by being fragile meat bags?

The Aerial Mapper

What can tardigrades tell us about historic trends in the environment?

Alli B

What phylum do they belong to? Are they living fossils from millions of years ago, or have they evolved into their indestructible form more recently in history? Do they have any larger relatives in our current world or from prehistoric times? What is their wacky mouth suction cup for? What do they eat?? What eats them? How do those little guys reproduce? So many questions!

Scarlet P

what are the "claw" looking things on the tardigrade's "feet" and what are they for?

Scarlet P

Did you see the series Star Trek Discovery with the giant space tardigrade? And if so what aspects of that tardigrade are based on our real knowledge of tardigrade, and what parts of the depiction was the most outlandish or fabricated?

Alli B

How long do they live—are they like a tortoise or a mayfly?

Scarlet P

How were tardigrade's discovered?

Scarlet P

what is the strangest place tardigrades have been found?

Alli B

Are they affected by bacteria and viruses, and can they be vectors for illness?

Alli B

I’m all for a tardigrade emoji! Who do we have to call to make that happen? Also, could a tardigrade ride a snowflake? The Canada question has me wondering.

Theresa Egan

Do they have mouths? How do they move and know where to go?

Dig

Not a question, but I so I ironically woke up with Cosmo Shel Drake's Tardigrade Song stuck in my head this morning!

Reuben Eadon

FTQA: How hardy are these little guys? I know they can survive the vacuum of space and maybe even strong radiation but how invincible are they?

Nicole Robb

FTQA: What classification are tardigrades?

Nicole Robb

FTQA: Does the ologist like the song “ Waterbear Don’t Care” By Mike Likes Science?

Mini Minnie

My husband, John Pemberton, had a professor in college, Craig Beasley, that discovered a new tardigrade. Because of that John has been a tardigrade fan for decades. His question: What is the biggest tardigrade, and can you keep it as a pet?

T Noz

I vote them one of the few surviving animals species on the planet along with cockroaches, crows and rats in 200 years.

Anna Elizabeth

What is the most charismatic species of tardigrade? Also, do tardigrades make good pets?

Danielle Sucher

Did tardigrades showing up on Star Trek lead to increased funding for tardigrade research (or any other benefit to the scientific community)?

Danielle Sucher

If tardigrades were bigger, would their claws tickle us or would they cut?

Earl of Greymalkin

1) Are they boopable??! They look so boopable!!! 2) How do their hands work? Hands? Peets? Can they use the claws independently of each other? What do they grip with it? 3) How does the mechanics of swimming work for them when they look like slightly deflated zeppelins? Are they just doing tiny doggy paddles? 4) How do they sense the world around them? 5) What kind of internal organs do they have? How does their digestive system work? 6) Could they be scaled up (or bred for larger size)? Or does their biology limit how big they can get for some reason? 7) Are they found all over the world or just in some areas? Are there different strains that have different adaptations? How hard would it be to find some in the backyard? 8) Have they been sequenced? What does the tardigrade genome look like? Any weird shit? What are their closest living relatives on the phylogenetic tree? 9) What evolutionary pressures have led to them being so indestructible to so many different extremes? Are they the most metal organism to ever be studied? \m/ 10) Where do they fit in the food chain? Do they have predators?

Ashley Marrs

where do they live? Are they parasitic? Do they hang out with (or inside) plants or animals? inside dust bunnies? or tide pools?

Ry_ofthetiger

Are we able to interact with tardigrades on any meaningful level? Could I have a pet tardigrade that I can give treats and teach it to do tricks?

glittertornado

Where can we find them?? Can I keep on as a pet? Have you seen the Squishable TM stuffie of the tardigrade? It's SO CUTE!!

Jenna Congdon

WHY DO THEY LOOK LIKE THAT?! (an abandoned grey sleeping bag with little claws). And, more importantly, why does looking like a literal sack of grey smooshy stuff make them so dang cute?

Mariah Walzer

I just want to know about the Flim Flam. Give me the hard truth about everyone's favorite micro-astronaut.

Kelly Dooling

When did we originally discover them? How are they able to survive such extreme environments?

Magsaroni

I am so stoked that you are doing tardigrades! I want to know everything about them including, why are they so charming? How can they be cute and terrifying at the same time? Do you think they're actually aliens? Cuz I do.

Rebekah Fitchett

Why are they both cute and creepy at the same time?

Eliza

When they say they’re everywhere are they literally everywhere? I’m in arid South Australia and could I find them here?

Dave Cannon

What kinda systems are we dealing with? Do they have internal organs? How'd anyone find them to begin with? Who's idea was it to torture them, and follow up, how sad were they that the water bears didn't care? Have I eaten a potato walrus?! Do they live anywhere I'd be able to "see" them, I'm in North Florida.

David the Altruistic Misanthrope

Could tardigrades exist as they are if they were bigger? Like the size of a little bear? Or would they no longer be resilient and special?

Ron

Can I find them in my yard in San Diego? Where would I look?

Kai Kishimoto

Where do tardigrades fit on the evolutionary tree? What are their closest relatives?

Sue MyShak

I wonder since they’ve survived so much how they’ll do with the microplastic crisis we’re currently in. And what other human made environmental situations they’ve survived. This is such a great one!!!!

Essence Birdsall

Can I keep them as pets? Can a person even see them with the naked eye?

Verena Runstadler

What kind of immune system does a tardigrade have? Has anyone ever sequenced the tardigrade micro biome?

Teresa Gleason

Are they so resilient because they are so tiny? How are they, or are they, affected by the effects of climate change? Are they found in Antarctica? I can’t wait to learn more about these amazing creatures!

Cyntia B

Do we know of conditions which can actually kill them? Are all species as resistant? Are there other animals known to be as or almost as resistant to harsh conditions?

Addie Cappello she her

But why are they so cute? How do we make them bigger? They’re like water wombats- look at those talons. What are those “claws” on their feet for actually? I am sure the colonist will go over this, but can you explain their anatomy and functions? When/how did we first discover these baby rolypolies of the water? Do they have any close or distract relatives?

Addie Cappello she her

Does any other creature use them to ride on? Like, are they water taxies for other organisms?

Kristen Fuller

Do they live forever? Can you shoot them into space?

Moose

How old is the oldest tardigrade ever found?

K8 Rouse

My son, Kaelen, age 9, wants to know where and how he can see one with his microscope. His dream is go study tardigrades in outer space. What field should he go into in order to do that?

Danae Sprouse

Seriously! Actually considering that they are purposely going into cryobiodis rather than deal with freshman!

Katie Stalder

So, what do they do? Are they like a parasite since they’re kind of related to nematodes? What eats them? Can they even be digested?!?

Ryan Marlow

Unserious but actually slightly serious question: Can we use their genes to make transgenic animals that are more radiation resistant?

Rachel Court

FTQA: Do we know when they evolved? Are they so tough AND ancient that they survived environmental shifts or planetary events that other species haven't e.g. dinosaurs? Will they someday rule the earth??

Lehua Johnson

Are tardigrades aware of us and/or other macro-scale beings? Ant-Man and the Wasp comes to mind -- would it even be possible to interact with them on their terms so to speak?

Hi_X_Im_dad

Is there one super-duper tardigarde species that is resistant to all the things (radiation, heat, vacuum, drying, etc)? Or are they all like that? Or is there one species that can survive drying but not radiation, for instance, and another that is radiation resistant but not the other stuff, etc?

Kelly Shaver

Are there tardigardes everywhere and if so, can I call them all my pets??

Alex

What happens to a tardigrade’s physiology when it goes dormant? Can it enter this state several times over a lifetime, or does it only have one shot?

Alex

Where do tardigrades fit on the evolutionary tree?

Haley Vandewall

My question: does the ologist or Alie know that they sell holographic water bear stickers for your laptop or water bottle on etsy?

Luna Rose

What did you think of the Star Trek space tardigrade?

Kellie McCain

Why are they considered "animals"? Are there different colors? How can we make them mascots of something!

Amy Zucker Morgenstern

What's the best way to find and see tardigrades? I've heard that they are very likely to be living in my back yard and are visible under a strong magnifying glass. Any tips for where to find them? Moss, soil, damp, dry . . . ? Is there a good way to concentrate them, like maybe rinsing the substrate and putting it through a coffee filter? --Amy Z M

Erin Sorensen

From my 10 year old son, Zephyr: Why do they exist? What is their purpose? Is it true they were sent to space by NASA? How were they studied in space?

Alyssa Haynie

FTQA! We know tardigrades can survive in extreme environments, i want to know: where is it that they are HAPPIEST?

Marissa DuBois

Where are tardigrades geographically located? If in North America are they commonly located by hikers/explorers if we know what to look for?

Marissa DuBois

From my husband Chris; Do these make good pets? For example can these creatures be used in bioactive reptile/amphibian enclosures?

Josie Rutherford

How can they die? How small are they really? Why do I think they are oddly cute? What ecological advantage do they provide? Some people call these water bears and others potato walruses. Is this one of those tests where what you see tells you a aspect of your deep psyche? What does it use its nails for? Are they hard or soft? How do I get a pet tardigrade? Are they soft or rigid? Do they have eyes? Why do they kinda look like a rectum? Why does it have a butthole mouth? Is it used as both a mouth and a butthole? What do they eat? Do they breathe? How do they make babes?

Britt Kline

I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS EP!!! I first learned about them from an episode of Cosmos with Neil deGrasse-Tyson and I’ve been in love with these wee-est of potato walruses ever since. 😍

GhoulNextDoor

I’ve heard that they can be in stasis for about 30 years. If this is true would they be able to be in stasis for the maximum amount of time then emerge to eat, etc. then return to stasis and repeat? By doing that essentially extend their lives indefinitely?

Kevin Tiemeyer

Are my nightmare true? Are there giant ancestral versions of these creatures that are the true but secret origin of bologna?

Sara Rocero

Tardigrades- just why? What’s their function in an ecosystem? Can other animals see them and then consume them?

burke Stansbury

How have people learned so much already about these tiny creatures?

Kati Thompson

For someone who has a tardigrade tattoo, I have so much to learn!! Are these cuties social? Do they hang out? Is there a social hierarchy? What’s a group of tardigrades called?

Lou

My daughter Phoebe wants to know if anyone ever tested to see if they can survive a nuclear blast or extreme radiation exposure. PS she loved the misophonia episode and is pestered by her mother’s and brother’s noises daily.

Lyrebird

why legs?? and why eight? most microorganisms look so simple but tardigrades look like their invitation to the microscosmos party had a completely different dress code.

ChickenChomper

omg Yaaaazzz!!! I <3 tards so much! Thank you Alie/Ologies Team! They say that tardigrades are supposed to be able to withstand the pressures of outer space. Since the deep-sea is often compared to outer space....what do we know of tardigrades in the deep-sea? Do they have special adaptations to high pressure environments?

TwoStonesWithOneČech

Oh boy so many. I’ll try not to ask too many. - What sorts of environments can they survive in? - What sorts of environments can’t they survive in? - How exactly do they survive? Is it a different strategy for, say, the vacuum of space versus a highly irradiated patch of dirt? - What do they eat and how do they do it? -They’re so tiny! How do their insides work? Do they actually have little organs kind of like other animals or is it more like a cell with organelles? - How small are they actually? E.g. how do they compare in size to an atom or a big molecular compound or a cell? - Do they have natural predators? - What is their ecology like? Do they have any notable characteristics in their life cycle? - How do they make little baby tardigrades?

Anna Dylan

How does it work when they dry out and are resuscitated with water??

Anna Dylan

How do tardigrades compare to other invertebrates (size, organs (??), eating?)

Mouse Paxton

Have you heard Tardigrade Song by Cosmo Shelldrake? How are they so insanely hardy? Why did they evolve this way? Is there anything that can kill them? I heard that a spacecraft carrying tardigrades crashed on the moon, what are the odds there's going to be a lunar colony of nigh-indestructible tardigrades?

Sadie Vipond

How many tardigrades am I surrounded by right now?

mynameisaurien

How big is your crocheted tardigrade going to be? 😍

mynameisaurien

Or a rhino. And if so, could I ride one comfortably? What sounds would they make?

Jordan Smith

Other than being super cute, what do they do? Are they detritivores? Are they just hanging out for the vibes?

Elliot Feeling

Well I’m on row 46 out of 77 for the body, and it’s currently 7” 😬 When I’m done I’ll have to calculate how many times bigger than life size 🥰 thanks for asking

Disco Ru

Is it possible they are alien lifeforms and did not originate on earth?

Gavin Roach

What do we need to do with our microscope to see them?

Gavin Roach

And how long do they live? And do they like music?

The Crafty Physicist

Oh I'm so excited for this one! What color(s) are tardigrades?

Clarissa GP

FTQA — I’m stoked about this topic! I have two other questions posted separately because they are different focuses. Question 1: Where do they live? How ubiquitous are they? Can you find them catching a ride under your shoe like a tiny cowboy companion, or are they more elusive, like a wee bitty bandit?

Clarissa GP

FTQA — I have two other questions posted separately because they are different focuses. Question 2: From which organisms did they evolve and to which are they most related or similar?

Clarissa GP

FTQA — I have two other questions posted separately because they are different focuses. Question 3: How does water bear research and knowledge affect what we know about prolonging or sustaining human life? Does it have any translation to medical advancements, or health or disease research?

Ashley Adair

I read about tardigrades in the book Farming With Soil Life and while I learned a lot of new things (including how some tardigrades lay eggs in their own cast off skins), the book didn't describe how they mate. How do they mate and can you tell males and females apart? How many species of tardigrade are there?

mynameisaurien

Eight legs...? They're too cute to be spiders (I desperately hope). But now I wonder how many eyes they have, or if they secrete any substances...?

joesyourmom

Where are they? In any moss? Do they also like lichen?

Siri Gossman

Oooo yeah! Like, do they cry? Do they have poop/pee? Are they slimy?

Caro Young

So many questions! How do they eat and poop and reproduce?

Caro Young

Do we think they could be an organisms we find on another planet?

Plucky_Ukelele

My 9-year-old daughter wants to know if they can live on the moon and maybe other planets?

Katie Armstrong

Are they related to the ceptid The Squank?

Vanessa Adams

Can we train them to work for us?

Vanessa Adams

What biologically makes them super resilient to all sorts of environments? Can we learn from that to make better spacesuits?

Koda Robillard

could tardigrades and roaches hypothetically take over the world in the event of a nuclear apocalypse

Tara Ward

From my 13-yo son Will: do they have the same organs and body parts as normal creatures, and if not, how do they survive without those?

Nathalie Jones

Could there be tardigrades on Europa, Venus, etc.?

Jenifer Fleming

Ftqa: we gave them a very cute name of water bear....if they could name us, what would we be? If you're a tardigrade looking up at a hooman, how big are we? What is the comparison? Are we as big to them as Mt Everest is to us. I can't stop thinking about how tiny they are.

Brenna Hull

Do we know if they make any sounds? I’m imagining them making tiny little roars and grunts

Zuleika Pevec

FTQA: do they have eyes? Other sensory organs? Do they walk or swim?

Jeff McKee

Is this what Mercury is always in?

Clarissa GP

What happens to both you and the tardigrade if you accidentally ingest one? Are they inside us already?

Claire Houston

First time question asker, name Claire. When will I see a water bear? Am I looking in the wrong place? How microscopic are they? I've worked in wastewater over 20 years and still get excited every time I look through the microscope, hoping today will finally be the day. Most often I'm at a magnification of 100x. Is this too much; not enough? Would I have better luck observing moss piglets with a jeweler's loupe in my backyard? I'm going to keep looking and am excited for the day I finally meet a tardigrade! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and enthusiasm!

sigpig

why do they have eight legs? are they somehow related to spiders?

sigpig

did they ever have eyes? can they hear?

Michael Sherman

What is your favorite representation of a water bear in Media and why is it from Kipo and the age of the wonder beasts?

Rachel Weisz

I hope this is Jenny Tenlan! Can we talk about tardigrades going to space/the deep sea?

Beebatsy

I just want to say how much I Looove tardigrades! I wish they were bigger so they could be cuddled properly as they deserve.

Dad jokes crack me up

These little buddies are amazing; is there anything they cannot survive??

Stacie Cobra

Mostly just what the fuck? And how? These little guys are amazing and fascinating!

Callie Fong

I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS EPISODE I LOVE TARDIGRADES. Question - how old are tardigrades historically? How do we know that? Does the fact that they have traveled through space affect the earth years we measure their existence by? Are they even in space or is that a myth?

Claire Houston

What do tardigrades look like in their dessicated state? Are they recognizable?

Hope

when did the experiments to see what tardigrades could survive start? and why??

Valary Joly

I read the cutest children's book about tardigrades and they were terrified of a wolf spider! Do wolf spiders really eat tardidrades?

Mariann

How do they find mates and do they have weird penises? Do they have a baculum?

Xavier Fleischood

THEY'RE EUTELIC? WHAT??? I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT WAS A WAY OF LIVING BEFORE NOW