Fact #16
June 6, 2026Tardigrades Can Survive the Vacuum of Space
Tardigrades, also called water bears (due to their bear-like shape) are some of the most resilient animals we know of. They are microscopic and can survive extreme conditions such as freezing and boiling temperatures, intense pressure and radiation, and even the vacuum of space!
Mini Facts
1
Tardigrades were discovered in 1773 by German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze.
2
Tardigrades are usually less than 1mm long, barely visible to the naked eye!
3
Tardigrades can live for decades without food or water.
4
There are over 1,300 different species of these water bears.