Toughest creature on earth also survives space

[Darlica]

I'm talking about Tardigrades (water bears).

Swedish scientists sent a colony of Tardigrades in to space on the outside of the Foton-M3 probe launched from Kazakhstan a year ago.
The capsule holding the Tardigrade colony was only sheltered during the take off and the re-entering in atmosphere/landing, during the 10 days in space the little animals was exposed space; vacuum, radiation UV rays the hole lot.
And they not only survived, the death rate (very low) was the same as for the control group that stayed at home in a lab in southern Sweden, the ability to breed and create a healthy offspring was also the same as for the control group!

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a link in English so I'll link to our biggest newspaper where I found the article.
http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=597&a=830762

We have some really odd animals on this planet.





Now I'm just waiting for the first articles proclaiming that water bears actually are aliens... 



Edit: just found a good link in English Tardigrades



~edited to correct link format ~griffin