What living things could survive if the Sun collapsed or if extraordinary events such as a collision with an asteroid occurred? Apparently it is not the insects that survive, but the tardigrades, better known as "water bears", tiny beings able to adapt to the most extreme conditions.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
What living things could survive if the sun collapsed or if extraordinary events such as the collision with an asteroid? Apparently it would not be the insects that survived, but the tardigrades, better known as "water bears“, Tiny beings able to adapt to the most extreme conditions.
Water bears are the most resilient creatures on the planet
Oxford University researchers came to the conclusion that for tardigrades there would be no escape even after catastrophic events, observing the "water bears" under the microscope. Of these living beings we know that they are able to survive temperature up to 150 ° C (302 ° F) ea radiation from 5 thousand to 6.200 Gy, which resist very high and very low pressures, as well as they are not affected by the lack of oxygen.
What events would be able to wipe out life on Earth?
This is the question that drove the team of Oxford and. Rafael Alves Batista, who took part in the research, told the Daily Mail that it was a surprise to find that water bears incredibly they are resilient to any threat, including the worst for humans such as supernovae o Earth impacts with large asteroids.
Even without man, life on Earth would exist
The conclusion of the study, therefore, is precisely this: even if man were annihilated, life would continue on our planet. And these creatures would surely be among those able to survive best.
“Without technology to protect us, we humans are a very sensitive species. There would be life on Earth even long after we disappear, ”adds Batista.
In particular, water bears could survive for at least 10 billion years and they would be annihilated only if the sun exploded.
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And on other planets?
These conclusions are especially important considering that the extreme conditions that could affect the Earth could be those that currently characterize other planets. For scientists investigating the presence of living things elsewhere, therefore, this study can be considered a valuable insight. If the tardigrades are so resilient, who says that on other planets there cannot be completely similar beings, which have developed in conditions prohibitive for the life of the human being? If some planets are not hospitable to humans, why can't they be hospitable to other forms of life? There is also a precedent that would demonstrate the resistance of some perhaps underestimated organisms: it seems that Russian cosmonauts have found plankton outside the "windows" of the space station.
Cover photo source: Sciencenews
Anna Tita Gallo
