Tardigrades, also called water bears or moss piglets, are near-microscopic aquatic animals that are extremely resilient
They may have a monochromatic vision, as Opsins, crucial for color vision, are lacking or non-responsive in some species
They are found across all seven continents, from the highest mountain to the deepest sea, even in space
To survive in harsh conditions, they enter an almost death-like state called cryptobiosis for more than a decade
During cryptobiosis, they expel more than 95% of the water from their bodies, lower their metabolism, retract their heads and legs, and curl into a dehydrated tun
In a desiccated state, they produce huge amounts of antioxidants that effectively neutralize evil reactive oxygen species and withstand higher radiation
They struggle at 181°F; replicating their cryptobiosis holds longevity secrets for humans in space exploration