THE SUPERSCRIPT (small zero at the top as a symbol for degree) AFTER THE NUMBER FOR TEMPERATURE BECAME A LARGE ZERO WHEN POSTED ON ODN. THIS MADE THE AMOUNT 10 TIMES LARGER, AN IMPOSSIBLE NUMBER. I HAVE RESENT THE ARTICLE USING THE WORD degree THIS TIME. THANKS. : Henry Wiebe
What in the world is a tardigrade? It is a very tiny and very tough aquatic creature. Most of them are less than 1 mm long (1/25 inch) and have been called water bears or moss piglets.
It has been shown to live through being frozen down to -267 degrees C (-452 degrees F), as well as surviving +151 degrees C (304 degrees F). Deep sea divers have to contend with increasing pressure at increasing depths. Fatalities have occurred, yet the tardigrade has been subjected to extreme (600MPa) water pressure 6 times greater than at the bottom of the deepest ocean trench, without losing its life. X-rays 250 times more intense than those that would kill us simply cause it to curl up, shut down its metabolism, stop its respiration and then bounce back. A special protein labelled Dsup, for damage suppression, provides the protection. (More info on Wikipedia.)
So what?? This was designed, not a chance or random production. The theory of evolution calls for the natural selection of traits that would support survival but cannot account for survival tactics way beyond what it has never, or would ever, encounter. We, and everything around us, are evidences of the amazing provision of a loving Creator.
Gratefully on the sunny side,
Henry Wiebe