Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Corky and the Water Bears

Corky was spotted by micro-marine biologist, Flavius Boone, playing with a couple of water bears yesterday. Tardigrades, also known as water bears or moss piglets, are able to survive in extreme environments that would kill almost any other animal. Some can survive temperatures of close to absolute zero and temperatures as high as 151 °C (304 °F), 1,000 times more radiation than other animals, and almost a decade without water. Since 2007, tardigrades have also returned alive from studies in which they have been exposed to the vacuum of outer space for a few days in low earth orbit. These two Corky named Benny and Elvis (after the Arminian Antics team). 

8 comments:

  1. "These two Corky named Benny and Elvis (after the Arminian Antics team)."

    Was that the K.I.T. part of the post? Or have we got to that point yet? ; )

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    1. The K.I.T. was designed to be used with the J.F.L. posts. Sometimes I post scientific moments (like the one above) or report on Corky's whereabouts (also like the one above). Then there are the events which I consider somewhat important (like Nigel Pettibone's attempt to sabotage Calvinistic Cartoons).
      There is an old saying (which I just made up):
      "Don't run from a running gag - eventually, it will catch up to you." :)

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  2. How nice of him to name them after those two...

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    Replies
    1. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but seconds after this photo was taken, a larger micro-organism devoured the two water bears. Corky escaped with no injuries.

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