Curr Biol September 2008 PMID 18786368

Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit.

K Ingemar Jönsson, Elke Rabbow, Ralph O Schill, Mats Harms-Ringdahl, Petra Rettberg

Mentions

154
Peak: 4 in Aug 2019
across 5 sources since Apr 2019

Extended reach

82,137
potential audience

Total likes

69

Video views

2,841

Mentions per month

Apr 2019 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News94 articles
  • Blogs38 articles
  • X / Twitter13 posts
  • Facebook6 posts
  • YouTube3 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions showcase a variety of perspectives, from support of the research's implications—such as waterbears surviving space conditions—to skepticism about the details, especially regarding radiation effects, as exemplified by posts arguing that direct solar radiation was lethal for tardigrades. The tone varies from informative to critical, reflecting curiosity and debate about the scientific validity and significance of the study.

AgreementNeither agree nor disagree

The discussions show mixed opinions, with some posts supporting the resilience of tardigrades while others contest their survival capabilities, especially regarding the effects of radiation.

InterestHigh interest

Many discussions express high curiosity and engagement, referencing specific experiments and results about space survival, indicating strong interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

The posts include detailed critiques, references to scientific studies, and debates, demonstrating a moderate level of deep engagement and analysis.

ImpactModerate impact

The conversations highlight the significance of the findings for understanding extremophile survival in space, suggesting a moderate impact on scientific and public perceptions.

Abstract in brief

  • Tardigrades, tiny water-dwelling creatures, can survive the harsh conditions of space in low Earth orbit, including vacuum, extreme temperatures, and radiation.
  • Their resilience is due to a unique ability to enter a state of cryptobiosis, where they essentially shut down their metabolism and protect their cells.
  • This discovery suggests that tardigrades could potentially survive long-duration space missions, raising interesting questions about life’s resilience and the possibility of extraterrestrial survival.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Alex Richter-Boix
@BoixRichter · X

Antes, otro experimento de la ESA (European Space Agency) exponiendo otras dos especies a frío y a altas radiaciones de UV. Volvieron a sobrevivir, deshidratándose primero para rehidratartarse pasadas las adversidades. https://t.co/V1ea3gC3A8

Apr 17, 2019 · 26 likes · 2 shares · 51,806 followers View post →
長沼毅
@NaganumaTakeshi · X

@komatunoudon 2007年の「クマムシ宇宙空間曝露実験」によると、クマムシは真空状態には耐えられるけど、紫外線(全波長)には弱い、それでも実験期間(10日間)の紫外線曝露では120個体中3個体が生き残ったとのこと https://t.co/lQKhiGZDN3 月面土壌(レゴリス)などに隠れたら、もっと生き残りそうです。

Sep 29, 2019 · 4 likes · 17,357 followers View post →
Pense Ciência
@CienciaPense · X

Fontes: https://t.co/bYIkriuxZ0 https://t.co/8047e63Hyd https://t.co/STqibz0MYM

May 24, 2020 · 1 like · 1,862 followers View post →
Len Fisher
@LenFisherScienc · X

@matthewcobb @RogerHighfield https://t.co/9TKFAja8XR "No juveniles appeared from eggs exposed to solar light."

Aug 8, 2019 · 1 like · 1,051 followers View post →
Garrett Smith
@Garrettroph · X

@sapphixy @ProfPhoebe @spozbo @dna_heligrace They put them there as a study on their survivability https://t.co/df8Q06vMze

Sep 26, 2022 · 1 like · 633 followers View post →
Zoologíamanía
@zoologiamania · X

RT @BoixRichter: Antes, otro experimento de la ESA (European Space Agency) exponiendo otras dos especies a frío y a altas radiaciones de UV…

Apr 18, 2019 · 2 shares · 3,025 followers View post →

All mentions

Tardi4life
@Tardi4life · X

Jönsson, K.I., Rabbow, E., Schill, R.O., Harms-Ringdahl, M., & Rettberg, P. (2008). Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit. Current Biology, 18(17), R729–R731. https://t.co/ATnHwYMDES

May 2, 2025 · 1 followers View post →
Garrett Smith
@Garrettroph · X

@sapphixy @ProfPhoebe @spozbo @dna_heligrace They put them there as a study on their survivability https://t.co/df8Q06vMze

Sep 26, 2022 · 1 like · 633 followers View post →
#cisplatin
@cisplatin7 · X

Tardigrades exposed to solar radiation had a very low survival and fitness. Only some animals of the species Richtersius coronifer and Milnesium tardigradum survived the extreme condition. Rujukan: https://t.co/9ebcAakwDS

Jul 30, 2022 · 799 followers View post →
Pense Ciência
@CienciaPense · X

Fontes: https://t.co/bYIkriuxZ0 https://t.co/8047e63Hyd https://t.co/STqibz0MYM

May 24, 2020 · 1 like · 1,862 followers View post →
Rachel Burckhardt, Ph.D.
@RMBurckhardt · X

Waterbears can survive in hot springs, polar ice, on mountains, and deep in the ocean. In fact, researchers found that waterbears can also survive the vacuum of space! That's good since a capsule containing some crashed on the moon in 2019. https://t.co/U3F0xm4AmP

May 8, 2020 · 468 followers View post →
Cheryl Amber Dotson
@GODZILLASLAYS65 · X

Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit - ScienceDirect https://t.co/50V6ef4th4

Nov 17, 2019 · 1,092 followers View post →
長沼毅
@NaganumaTakeshi · X

@komatunoudon 2007年の「クマムシ宇宙空間曝露実験」によると、クマムシは真空状態には耐えられるけど、紫外線(全波長)には弱い、それでも実験期間(10日間)の紫外線曝露では120個体中3個体が生き残ったとのこと https://t.co/lQKhiGZDN3 月面土壌(レゴリス)などに隠れたら、もっと生き残りそうです。

Sep 29, 2019 · 4 likes · 17,357 followers View post →
Graphenes
@Graphenes1 · X

@WorldAndScience Tardigrades cannot survive direct exposure to solar radiation. I dont know why this story is going around. Note that in attached; None survived direct exposure and no eggs hatched from limited exposure. https://t.co/ynHyARmEpg

Aug 10, 2019 · 131 followers View post →
Laxmi N
@laxmin · X

@ashoswai @ConversationUK You must probably stick to trolling on social issues. Biological sciences are far from ur understanding. 1st, tardigrades are NOT pollution. 2nd, Tardigrades are resilient, but NOT extremophiles In Space, low survival due to radiation & vacuum. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.048

Aug 9, 2019 · 12 followers View post →
Len Fisher
@LenFisherScienc · X

@matthewcobb @RogerHighfield https://t.co/9TKFAja8XR "No juveniles appeared from eggs exposed to solar light."

Aug 8, 2019 · 1 like · 1,051 followers View post →
Len Fisher
@LenFisherScienc · X

This is only half the story. See https://t.co/9TKFAja8XR. "No juveniles survived after being exposed to solar light" https://t.co/G4Fz9dMOTI

Aug 8, 2019 · 1,051 followers View post →
Zoologíamanía
@zoologiamania · X

RT @BoixRichter: Antes, otro experimento de la ESA (European Space Agency) exponiendo otras dos especies a frío y a altas radiaciones de UV…

Apr 18, 2019 · 2 shares · 3,025 followers View post →
Alex Richter-Boix
@BoixRichter · X

Antes, otro experimento de la ESA (European Space Agency) exponiendo otras dos especies a frío y a altas radiaciones de UV. Volvieron a sobrevivir, deshidratándose primero para rehidratartarse pasadas las adversidades. https://t.co/V1ea3gC3A8

Apr 17, 2019 · 26 likes · 2 shares · 51,806 followers View post →