Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

How Did Tardigrades End Up on the Moon? w/ Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe

Sep 20, 2024

Join Daniel Whiteson, a physics expert and co-host of a science podcast, along with Jorge Cham, a creator renowned for visual storytelling. They dive into the amazing world of tardigrades, the microscopic creatures that can survive extreme environments. Discover how these resilient 'water bears' ended up on the moon, their incredible survival strategies, and why they might just terrify us. With humor and insightful banter, they make the science of these remarkable organisms both entertaining and enlightening.

36:27

Episode guests

Jorge Cham

Daniel Whiteson

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Quick takeaways

Tardigrades are incredible extremophiles capable of surviving extreme conditions, including radiation, heat, and even the vacuum of space.

Recent lunar missions inadvertently released tardigrades on the moon, raising intriguing questions about potential extraterrestrial life and human impact.

Deep dives

Mass Extinctions and Tardigrades' Longevity

Tardigrades are remarkable creatures that have survived all five mass extinctions in Earth's history, evolving before the first extinction event. Their resilience raises interesting questions about their survival mechanisms in changing environments. Despite numerous climate shifts that led to the extinction of many species, tardigrades have thrived, adapting to extreme conditions that would be fatal for most organisms. With such a long evolutionary timeline, their ability to endure challenges sparks curiosity about their unique biology and the possibility of life in extreme environments elsewhere, including the moon.

Intro

5min

Reflections on a Scientist's Journey and the Nobel Prize

3min

Tardigrades: The Resilient Water Bears

5min

The Quirky World of Tardigrades

3min

The Resilient Tardigrades: Journey to the Moon

17min

What are tardigrades, and how did they end up on the moon?

I had the pleasure of exploring the evolution, resilience, and potential use cases of these microscopic creatures that can survive in extreme environments with Daniel Whiteson and Jorge Cham from Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe.

Enjoy!

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Key Takeaways: