This is the equivalent of going off the deep end meeting chuthulu and asking him to pop the pimple on your back. Like that tardigrade didn't know where this 3 dimentional bubble came from, but he uses it how he sees fit.
No, it's a bit above my head as I don't have much of a science background but just so fascinating. I was taken with them more on an instinctual/aesthetic basis. But the therapeutic possibilities look fascinating. Thanks so much.
Could astronauts and Martian colonists use this as an entire body treatment in space or is there a risk of complications with such wide spread application?
I mean they are saying the application within the thread I discussed could potentially be used to help astronauts with their exposure to radiation. But we shall see!
Video Credit: Harvard Microbial Sciences Initiative
There’s no denying these eight-legged segmented micro-animals are pretty cute. But the real allure of the tardigrade lies in its incredible hardiness. These little “water bears” might just be THE KEY to helping cancer patients tolerate radiation
The list of environments/conditions they can't survive in is remarkably short compared to the cartoonishly long scroll-that-hits-the-floor-and-rolls-forever list of ones they can!
therapy. When researchers stimulated cells to produce a protein that helps tardigrades survive extreme environments, the tissue showed much LESS DNA DAMAGE after radiation treatment.
About 60% of all cancer patients in the United States receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment. However, this radiation can have severe side effects that often end up being too difficult for patients to tolerate. Drawing inspiration from a tiny organism that can withstand huge amounts of
radiation, researchers at MIT, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the University of Iowa have developed a new strategy that may protect patients from this kind of damage. Their approach makes use of a protein from tardigrades, often also called “water bears,” which are usually less than a millimeter
in length. When researchers injected messenger RNA encoding this particular protein into mice, they found that it generated enough protein to PROTECT cells’ DNA from radiation-induced damage. If developed for use in humans, this approach could potentially benefit many cancer patients.
Radiation can be very helpful for many tumors, but it is important to also recognize that the side effects can be limiting. According to researchers, there is an unmet need with respect to helping patients mitigate the risk of damaging adjacent tissue. While radiation is often used to treat cancers
find it endlessly fascinating and funny that these guys can survive:
extreme pressures, low and high
lack oxygen
extreme temperatures
lack of water
radiation
starvation
the fucking vacuum of space
but are unable to do anything about their main predator, snails
Oh my gosh, I’m glad I could be of any help at all! I’m wishing you the absolute best and if there is anything I can ever help with please don’t hesitate to ask! I try to provide updates as much as possible!
Or is it trapped in the surface tension of the bubble? 🤣 A terrifying possibility (but I think it can get out of it realizes what's up or senses some food elsewhere)
Bro is playing mario galaxy 2 on that one super mario bros themed level with the looping section with the big koopa troopas
Thats what that reminded me of, anyway
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That bring the bare necessities of life
So is it actually scratching its back or? What is it to trying to scratch off? Is the bubble actually helping it scratch? I have questions and most certainly not the right ones.
Comments
They living the best life ever
I want to live a peaceful life like that
Not one ridden with absolute garbage everywhere
Steam decks
Power cooled by Extremophiles and built tardigrade tough!!!
(Get on it Valve, send me money)
Just imagine zooming in and it's just a buncha water bears scooting around in the insulation to keep the system from overheating or something lol
Do they actually feel itchiness? I mean, it looks so tiny that it feels like it shouldn't
Could astronauts and Martian colonists use this as an entire body treatment in space or is there a risk of complications with such wide spread application?
Ah yes biological wastewater treatment
There’s no denying these eight-legged segmented micro-animals are pretty cute. But the real allure of the tardigrade lies in its incredible hardiness. These little “water bears” might just be THE KEY to helping cancer patients tolerate radiation
https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/trump-team-dismantles-efforts-find-cure-cancer-and-other-deadly-disorders-and
The study has been published in Nature. YES, it is PEER-REVIEWED. 🧪
• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-025-01360-5
extreme pressures, low and high
lack oxygen
extreme temperatures
lack of water
radiation
starvation
the fucking vacuum of space
but are unable to do anything about their main predator, snails
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There's nerves in there.
And because he has nerves
He feels
does that mean...a tardigrade is pet-able?
it cant have an itch, can it?
its called
giant exercise ball
Yeah I'll see myself out, thank you very much.
Thats what that reminded me of, anyway
I think I’m jealous because I have to worry about a dumb as fuck administration now 😂
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That bring the bare necessities of life
Cuz if that’s what it’s doing I’m going to throw up from how adorable that is
And also tells me even little guys like them get itchies