Affectionately referred to as water bears or moss piglets, tardigrades are a phylum of small invertebrates first described in 1773. They are found in over 900 habitats across earth, but, at a mere 0.05-1.5 mm in length, you will need a microscope to see them. These fascinating animals have been part of the earth’s web of life for over 600 million years. Though small, their importance to scientific understanding cannot be underestimated. Tardigrades can survive almost anything thrown at them:
- temperatures as low as -200 °C (-328 °F) and as high as 151 °C (304 °F);
- freezing and/or thawing processes;
- changes in salinity;
- lack of oxygen;
- lack of water;
- levels of X-ray radiation 1000x the lethal human dose;
- some noxious chemicals;
- boiling alcohol;
- high pressure (up to 6x the pressure of the deepest part of the ocean);
- low pressure of a vacuum, even the vacuum of space.
Known as “The Space Bear Hunter,” Mike Shaw will present an overview of the microscopic creature, explaining its biology, life cycle, and unique survival characteristics, and describing its habitats. He will also provide guidance on how you can find tardigrades in your backyard.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Mike Shaw popularized tardigrades by hosting the YouTube video “First Animal to Survive in Space.” He also hosted a PBS video about the tardigrade called “Songs For Unusual Creatures,” and then appeared on national television in
Brazil discussing the tardigrade’s ability to survive extreme conditions.
Mr. Shaw has authored several books and a scientific paper increasing our knowledge about this unusual microscopic species. More recently, Mr. Shaw was featured in a science article in The New York Times to tie in with the tardigrade exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. He currently has an online course called “How To Find Tardigrades” on the Udemy platform. His books on tardigrades are: “Kids and Teachers Tardigrade Science Project Book, and “Tardigrade Quiz and Fact Book.”
Mike’s Tardigrade Website
Course Link: https://www.udemy.com/course/how-to-find-tardigrades/
Book Links:
https://amzn.to/3uKmq0t
https://amzn.to/3Gt3RQM
Location
Online via Zoom