Tardigrade (Tardigrada phylum): Tardigrades, or water bears, are the most cold-resistant animals known, surviving temperatures near absolute zero (-273°C). In extreme cold, they enter cryptobiosis, expelling water and producing a protective sugar called trehalose that prevents ice crystal formation. This “tun” state suspends metabolism, allowing survival in space, deep sea, and polar ice. They withstand freezing for decades and revive when conditions improve. Found worldwide, including Antarctica, they inhabit moss and lichens, enduring repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Their DNA repair mechanisms protect against cold-induced damage. This microscopic extremophile’s resilience makes it a model for astrobiology and a testament to life’s ability to persist in the coldest environments imaginable.
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