Biology

Can Life Survive Deep Space? Let’s Send It There! Can Life Survive Deep Space? Let’s Send It There!- Wired Science story about an experiment sending organisms to a Martian moon, and then back to Earth. Top 10 Things Launched Into Space in 2008 Top 10 Things Launched Into Space in 2008- Wired story about 2008 space launch cargo, including tardigrades Baby Squid, Bugs and Microbes Launched Into Space Baby Squid, Bugs and Microbes Launched Into Space- Wired Science story about tardigrades and other organisms on the Space Shuttle Endeavor's final mission. Science Lesson Plan: Animals, Grades K-1 | Common Core Science Lesson Plan: Animals, Grades K-1 | Common Core- Lesson plan on animals for grades K-1 includes a blank Know/Want to Know/Learned chart and a featured extension on tardigra… Critters found in Antarctic ice shows how tenacious life is - Salon.com Critters found in Antarctic ice shows how tenacious life is - Salon.com- An AP news story about critters and DNA found in Antarctic ice and in a sub-ice lake. Life at the Limits Now Open Life at the Limits Now Open- Video about 2015 "Life at the Limits" exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History International Society of Tardigrade Hunters International Society of Tardigrade Hunters- Advancing the study of tardigrade biology while engaging and collaborating with the public. The pied piper of cool science tools The pied piper of cool science tools- Stanford bioengineer Manu Prakash and his students developed an inexpensive, paper microscope for seeing all sorts of things, including water… Julia's water bear world Julia's water bear world- Julia loves water bears. The Few Tough Species That Survive the Rigors of Nothingness The Few Tough Species That Survive the Rigors of Nothingness- Story about water bears and lichens surviving exposure to the vacuum of space. NASA Selects 26 Space Biology Research Proposals NASA Selects 26 Space Biology Research Proposals- In August 2014, NASA announced upcoming space biology projects to be carried out on the International Space Station. The Virtually Indestructible Water Bear The Virtually Indestructible Water Bear- A news story for kids about water bears Tardigrades on Tumblr Tardigrades on Tumblr- Tardigrade images on Tumblr, some animated This tiny creature is called a tardigrade This tiny creature is called a tardigrade- Image of the day from EarthSky: a colorful tardigrade image produced by confocal microscopy. How to Find and Care for a Pet Tardigrade (Water Bear) How to Find and Care for a Pet Tardigrade (Water Bear)- Tips for finding your own water bears, and keeping them as pets. New to nature No 105: Austeruseus faroensis New to nature No 105: Austeruseus faroensis- A series in The Guardian focuses this time on a new tardigrade species World's Hardiest Organisms to Face 3 Years in Space World's Hardiest Organisms to Face 3 Years in Space- News from Popular Mechanics that a Russian spaceship that will visit one of Mars' moons will carry tardigrades and some other … And Water Bear it Is! And Water Bear it Is!- Entry in the DNA and Diversity blog about Hypsibius dujardini, a species of tardigrade whose genome is being sequenced. ET enjoys the simple things in life ET enjoys the simple things in life- A scientist considers the possibility of habitable worlds in the universe, the chances of them harbouring life, what aliens, if they exist, mi… Soil organisms: It's pretty vicious down there Soil organisms: It's pretty vicious down there- Conservancy scientist Sophie Parker dishes the dirt on soil organisms and why you should care. Tardigrade is plump, loveable Tardigrade is plump, loveable- Blog post with a photo of a water bear Wunderkammer, A Handmade Cabinet of Curiosity: Tardigrade pattern Wunderkammer, A Handmade Cabinet of Curiosity: Tardigrade pattern- Instructions for making a crochet water bear, with some photos. How Does the Tiny Waterbear Survive in Outer Space? How Does the Tiny Waterbear Survive in Outer Space?- Special adaptations allow the tiny animal known as the tardigrade to dry up and survive in suspended animation for years. Creative Collaborations: Globe-Trotting for Tardigrades Creative Collaborations: Globe-Trotting for Tardigrades- A story about a pair of American college students traveling to China to search for tardigrades for a Google Lunar X Prize … Nature Studies: We've lost touch with the tiny, microscopic things Nature Studies: We've lost touch with the tiny, microscopic things- A newspaper article about a lost appreciation for microscopic organisms. Unusual Creatures, Beautiful Sounds: Composer Michael Hearst's New Album Unusual Creatures, Beautiful Sounds: Composer Michael Hearst's New Album- An album of songs inspired by animals, including one song inspired by tardigrades. Tardigrada - Encyclopedia of Life Tardigrada - Encyclopedia of Life- Tardigrades section of the Encyclopedia of Life project Charismatic microfauna: A scientist dishes on the wild kingdom beneath our feet Charismatic microfauna: A scientist dishes on the wild kingdom beneath our feet- An interview with a conservation scientist discussing the strange organisms she finds in soil, fro… Moonstruck Moonstruck- Two American college students looking for tardigrades in China to send to the moon, on a Google Lunar X Prize mission Mosses: More than just green forest dwellers Mosses: More than just green forest dwellers- Feature story about mosses and the tiny organisms that live on them. Tardigrade Tardigrade- Wikipedia article about water bears including their anatomy, evolution and adaptations to life in extreme environments. Tardigrades Tardigrades- A monthly web magazine, video clips, and images. Do microorganisms have biogeography? Do microorganisms have biogeography?- Blog post explaining a theory that microorganisms, including many tardigrades, disperse around the world. Tiny water bears become first creatures to survive in space Tiny water bears become first creatures to survive in space- Daily Mail story about tardigrades surviving a trip in open space 'Water Bears' are First Animal to Survive Vacuum of Space 'Water Bears' are First Animal to Survive Vacuum of Space- News article reporting that tardigrades exposed to the harsh combination of low pressure and intense radiation found in … Behold the Mighty, Microscopic Water Bear Behold the Mighty, Microscopic Water Bear- A short video from NPR's Science Friday about tardigrade research. A Science Prodigy in an Unlikely Place A Science Prodigy in an Unlikely Place- A New York Times article about a student who, as an eighth grader, studied whether power plants affect local tardigrade diversity Hardy Li'l Critters will be First Tested in Open Space Hardy Li'l Critters will be First Tested in Open Space- News entry in the Boing Boing blog about tardigrades in space. Tardigrades in Space Tardigrades in Space- TARDIS, a research project evaluating the ability of tardigrades to survive in open space conditions. Deep-Freeze Deep-Freeze- A Time Magazine article that mentions Abbe Spallanzani, who discovered tardigrades in 1776, approaching the French philosopher Voltaire to ask about the soul of organ… Nature's Secrets: What is the Most Common Species in Southwest Florida? Nature's Secrets: What is the Most Common Species in Southwest Florida?- A newspaper article about tardigrades from the Herald Tribune of Southwest Florida. Tardigrade Newsletter Tardigrade Newsletter- Current research on tardigrades compiled by two researchers. Tardigrades Tardigrades- Movies, pictures, protocols and publications from a research laboratory at the University of North Carolina. Tardigrades - Bears of the Moss Tardigrades - Bears of the Moss- An article from the Kansas School Naturalist features information about the habitat, anatomy, physiology, and special adaptations to extreme weath… A Tardigrade from Scotland A Tardigrade from Scotland- A tardigrade from Scotland, Isohypsibius annulatus, described in Microscopy UK's online magazine. Hunting for 'Bears' in the Backyard Hunting for 'Bears' in the Backyard- Illustrated method for finding terrestrial tardigrades, an article from the Microscopy UK web magazine. The Incredible Water Bear The Incredible Water Bear- Article from Microscopy UK, illustrated with still images and video clips. Tardigrades Tardigrades- Introduction, taxonomy of the tardigrade genera, and a description of Pseudobiotus megalonys. In German and English. Sipuncula: Peanut Worm Sipuncula: Peanut Worm- Provides illustrated notes on the biology of these worms. Sipuncula Sipuncula- Information on the classification of the peanut worms with a photograph of Phascolopsis gouldii.