Tardigrades. I came across these extraordinary tiny creatures a number of years ago, have mentioned them here before, and have been intrigued by them ever since.
Since science has had success in creating a human-pig hybrid embryo recently, for lab grown organs, why not create a human-tardigrade hybrid that would be able to survive space?
These little critters are capable of withstanding huge amounts of radiation, heat up to 302°F/150°C, frozen almost to absolute zero, shed most all the water from their bodies and curl up into a dry 'tun' (husk) in a death-like state by radically slowing their metabolism in a suspended animation, only to be re-hydrated as good as new! That would all be beneficial for long term space travel, as well as the colonization of any planet that would be inhospitable to normal humans. Pretty dang incredible, right?
Since science has had success in creating a human-pig hybrid embryo recently, for lab grown organs, why not create a human-tardigrade hybrid that would be able to survive space?
These little critters are capable of withstanding huge amounts of radiation, heat up to 302°F/150°C, frozen almost to absolute zero, shed most all the water from their bodies and curl up into a dry 'tun' (husk) in a death-like state by radically slowing their metabolism in a suspended animation, only to be re-hydrated as good as new! That would all be beneficial for long term space travel, as well as the colonization of any planet that would be inhospitable to normal humans. Pretty dang incredible, right?
My interpretation of 'Tars on Mars'
Desiccation and rehydration of a tardigrade
Speaking of human-tardigrade hybrids, whilst searching more info on tardigrades, found this brilliant 'cosplay' which was the inspiration for my rendition 'Tars on Mars'-
Also found the following, supposed mouth of a tardigrade. Rather frightening!
And I leave you with this dancing tardigrade!