Comments on: Itty Bitty Critter Committee to join human astronauts on Shuttle Endeavour http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:11:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110282 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110282 Is that the mouth or an armor clad anus? Is that the mouth or an armor clad anus?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110290 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110290 They're not nearly indestructible. Something people rarely seem to grasp about creatures like these and Deinococcus: the reason they're not everywhere is because they're vulnerable to other life, and get eaten or out-competed all the time. They're just resilient to the stuff we're not to. They’re not nearly indestructible. Something people rarely seem to grasp about creatures like these and Deinococcus: the reason they’re not everywhere is because they’re vulnerable to other life, and get eaten or out-competed all the time. They’re just resilient to the stuff we’re not to.

]]> By: karl_jones http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110550 karl_jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110550 <blockquote> ... finding a tardigrade is a treat. </blockquote> Speaking of which, are Water Bears good to eat? Like tiny lobsters? If you can gather enough of them to constitute a morsel, of course.

… finding a tardigrade is a treat.

Speaking of which, are Water Bears good to eat? Like tiny lobsters?

If you can gather enough of them to constitute a morsel, of course.

]]> By: gwailo_joe http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110297 gwailo_joe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110297 yeah, the 'mouth' is too small If it was Hollywood or Anime: cut off two rings back and add a hole with Sarlac Fangs spinning at 1K+RPMs: then you might have something to fear (also make them the size of tanker trucks) yeah, the ‘mouth’ is too small

If it was Hollywood or Anime: cut off two rings back and add a hole with Sarlac Fangs spinning at 1K+RPMs: then you might have something to fear

(also make them the size of tanker trucks)

]]> By: Infinitude Tortoises http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110321 Infinitude Tortoises Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110321 Seeing that lovely image at the top makes me <i>almost</i> as <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/happy_as_a_wet_tardigrade_tshirt-235375805903854201?gl=InfinitudeTortoises&zbar=true&group=mens&lifestyle=classic&rf=238757806594649553">happy as a wet tardigrade</a>! Seeing that lovely image at the top makes me almost as happy as a wet tardigrade!

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110341 Cowicide Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110341 I hope we don't kill any Space Bears in the process. I wouldn't be surprised if they had larger cousins floating around in space the size of Jupiter. I really don't want planet Earth swallowed up by giant Space Bears in an act of space vengeance. I hope we don’t kill any Space Bears in the process. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had larger cousins floating around in space the size of Jupiter. I really don’t want planet Earth swallowed up by giant Space Bears in an act of space vengeance.

]]> By: gths http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110343 gths Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110343 I for one welcome my new Tardigrade overlords. I for one welcome my new Tardigrade overlords.

]]> By: imhotep http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110347 imhotep Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110347 Pyrococcus furiosus are BADASS! They are extremophiles (from Latin extremus meaning "extreme" and Greek philiā meaning "love"). Their name means Rushing Fireberry, so do not let them anywhere near your testes satchel! Pyrococcus furiosus are BADASS! They are extremophiles (from Latin extremus meaning “extreme” and Greek philiā meaning “love”).
Their name means Rushing Fireberry, so do not let them anywhere near your testes satchel!

]]> By: pinehead http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110350 pinehead Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110350 Tardigrades are god's gift to those of us nerdy enough to know what water bears are. If they came in hamster size, I'd own a hundred of them. I have no doubt whatsoever that the water bears will do just fine in any experiment the astronauts put them through. I'm not so sure about the other lifeforms, but then again, I don't care. I do wonder if there are any tardigrade otherkin among us... Tardigrades are god’s gift to those of us nerdy enough to know what water bears are. If they came in hamster size, I’d own a hundred of them. I have no doubt whatsoever that the water bears will do just fine in any experiment the astronauts put them through. I’m not so sure about the other lifeforms, but then again, I don’t care.

I do wonder if there are any tardigrade otherkin among us…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110391 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110391 Look out Space Station! Look out Space Station!

]]> By: planettom http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110395 planettom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110395 And this is really just the test flight. The real mission comes this Fall, when a canister of these microscopic organisms will be going to Phobos, moon of Mars (and, hopefully, back to Earth after it gets samples) aboard the Russian Phobos-Grunt mission: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobos-Grunt And this is really just the test flight. The real mission comes this Fall, when a canister of these microscopic organisms will be going to Phobos, moon of Mars (and, hopefully, back to Earth after it gets samples) aboard the Russian Phobos-Grunt mission: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobos-Grunt

]]> By: Midden http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110403 Midden Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110403 "Something people rarely seem to grasp about creatures like these and Deinococcus: the reason they're not everywhere is because they're vulnerable to other life, and get eaten or out-competed all the time." I don't know about Deinococcus, but as I understand it, tardigrades ARE almost everywhere. Everywhere water, even if only in thin films, is available; from Pole to Pole, from the highest mountains to the depths of the oceans, deserts to tropical rain forests. “Something people rarely seem to grasp about creatures like these and Deinococcus: the reason they’re not everywhere is because they’re vulnerable to other life, and get eaten or out-competed all the time.”

I don’t know about Deinococcus, but as I understand it, tardigrades ARE almost everywhere. Everywhere water, even if only in thin films, is available; from Pole to Pole, from the highest mountains to the depths of the oceans, deserts to tropical rain forests.

]]> By: lewis stoole http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110418 lewis stoole Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110418 also from wiki: "September 2007, tardigrades were taken into low Earth orbit on the FOTON-M3 mission and for 10 days were exposed to the vacuum of space. After they were returned to Earth, it was discovered that many of them survived and laid eggs that hatched normally.[8]" also from wiki:
“September 2007, tardigrades were taken into low Earth orbit on the FOTON-M3 mission and for 10 days were exposed to the vacuum of space. After they were returned to Earth, it was discovered that many of them survived and laid eggs that hatched normally.[8]”

]]> By: voiceinthedistance http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110164 voiceinthedistance Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110164 Cute as a button. Make great pets, too! Cute as a button. Make great pets, too!

]]> By: Mujokan http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110166 Mujokan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110166 Tardigrades! So kewl! I think that one should be called "Mr. Bubbles". Tardigrades! So kewl! I think that one should be called “Mr. Bubbles”.

]]> By: NuOrder72 http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110423 NuOrder72 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110423 Whenever I look at that picture, I want to take a pair of the worlds smallest tweezers and squeeze the life out of it...I can't help it, most bugs (except for spiders) creep me out. Whenever I look at that picture, I want to take a pair of the worlds smallest tweezers and squeeze the life out of it…I can’t help it, most bugs (except for spiders) creep me out.

]]> By: phosphorious http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110172 phosphorious Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110172 If NASA is comfortable with the risk of Tardigardes coming back super-intelligent and radioactive, Ok I guess. But that's not the path I would have chosen. If NASA is comfortable with the risk of Tardigardes coming back super-intelligent and radioactive, Ok I guess. But that’s not the path I would have chosen.

]]> By: irksome http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110177 irksome Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110177 Ah, that takes me back to my youth; thousands of Tardigardes as far as the eye could see, thundering across the Plains. Pity we've hunted them to near extinction. Ah, that takes me back to my youth; thousands of Tardigardes as far as the eye could see, thundering across the Plains. Pity we’ve hunted them to near extinction.

]]> By: Muse http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110182 Muse Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110182 Water Bears are delightful. Since they are just about indestructible, they would make the perfect first pets for kids if they were scaled up a bit. I guess we will have to settle for <a href="http://www.neatoshop.com/product/Water-Bear">this instead.</a> Water Bears are delightful. Since they are just about indestructible, they would make the perfect first pets for kids if they were scaled up a bit. I guess we will have to settle for this instead.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110439 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110439 Ok, they're everywhere, but my point was not in terribly high numbers. If you check with a microscope, finding a tardigrade is a treat. Ok, they’re everywhere, but my point was not in terribly high numbers. If you check with a microscope, finding a tardigrade is a treat.

]]> By: desiredusername http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110188 desiredusername Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110188 Nice reference to IBTC. Nice reference to IBTC.

]]> By: Xeni Jardin http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110191 Xeni Jardin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110191 We try. We try.

]]> By: heliopolister http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110706 heliopolister Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110706 The reason it's acting so unusually docile is that it had its fangs unceremoniously ripped out by unscrupulous poachers who sell these poor creatures as toys to Westerners. The reason it’s acting so unusually docile is that it had its fangs unceremoniously ripped out by unscrupulous poachers who sell these poor creatures as toys to Westerners.

]]> By: Robbo http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110195 Robbo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110195 Mummenshanz In Spaaaaaace!!!! Mummenshanz In Spaaaaaace!!!!

]]> By: jere7my http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110222 jere7my Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110222 <i>they would make the perfect first pets for kids if they were scaled up a bit</i> Spoken like someone who hasn't seen one with its <a href="http://www.pollsb.com/photos/60/10773-reading_wonderful_story_water_bears_think_superior_kind_species_human_race.jpg">jaws everted</a>. On the other hand, they're also called "moss piglets". Moss piglets! they would make the perfect first pets for kids if they were scaled up a bit

Spoken like someone who hasn’t seen one with its jaws everted.

On the other hand, they’re also called “moss piglets”. Moss piglets!

]]> By: jere7my http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110227 jere7my Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110227 Correction: Those are tardigrade claws, not tardigrade jaws. Nevertheless! Correction: Those are tardigrade claws, not tardigrade jaws.

Nevertheless!

]]> By: The Jones Ultimatum http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110510 The Jones Ultimatum Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110510 What perfect smoothness does the water bear in the photo stand upon? See how it distorts the fabric it stands upon,with its mass. Incredible critters,but FFS do not release them into ZeroG. They will become intergalactic planet eaters. More powerful than you could possibly imagine.:) What perfect smoothness does the water bear in the photo stand upon?

See how it distorts the fabric it stands upon,with its mass.

Incredible critters,but FFS do not release them into ZeroG.
They will become intergalactic planet eaters.

More powerful than you could possibly imagine.:)

]]> By: MarkM http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110255 MarkM Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110255 <i>"Tardigrades... Why did it have to be tardigrades...?"</i> “Tardigrades… Why did it have to be tardigrades…?”

]]> By: Kiavahr http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110265 Kiavahr Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110265 It's sad that the only waterbear plushies I can find have cutesy googly-eyes. I want one with the anatomically correct horrormaw. It’s sad that the only waterbear plushies I can find have cutesy googly-eyes. I want one with the anatomically correct horrormaw.

]]> By: glamaFez http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/itty-bitty-critter-c.html#comment-1110271 glamaFez Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110271 Today Tardigrades, tomorrow Max Rebo. Today Tardigrades, tomorrow Max Rebo.

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