Skip to main content

Meet the tardigrade, the toughest animal on Earth - Thomas Boothby

4,841,383 Views

8,704 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Without water, a human can only survive for about 100 hours. But there’s a creature so resilient that it can go without it for decades. This 1-millimeter animal can survive both the hottest and coldest environments on earth, and can even withstand high levels of radiation. Thomas Boothby introduces us to the tardigrade, one of the toughest creatures on Earth.

Besides tardigrades, what other organisms can tolerate extreme environmental stresses? Do you think that they all use the same mechanisms to do this?

Sign in to answer question

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Thomas Boothby
  • Director Rémi Cans
  • Script Editor Emma Bryce
  • Sound Designer Erwann Chandon
  • Composer Erwann Chandon
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

More from Awesome Nature