nucleus

The Three Major Subatomic Particles

Proton, stable subatomic particle that has a positive charge equal in magnitude to a unit of electron charge and a rest mass of 1.67262 × 10−27 kg, which is 1,836 times the mass of an electron.

On average, the human eye cannot see particles that are smaller than 50 to 60 microns. Particles that are 10 microns or less are considered respirable and can settle deep into the lungs – often causing adverse health effects.

Anyone can see a tardigrade with their own eyes, given you have a few supplies on hand.

Scientists say, for instance, that tardigrades may have been among the first animals to leave the ocean and settle on dry land. Tardigrades pose no threat to humans.

Tardigrades are tiny, but you can see them fairly well with a basic dissecting microscope. PIPETTE: You’ll only need this if you want to look at the tardigrades under a compound microscope. It’s really, very hard to pick up a tardigrade and put it on a slide, but a very fine tip pipette works well.

The most remarkable feature of the tardigrades is their ability to withstand extremely low temperatures and desiccation (extreme drying). Under unfavourable conditions, they go into a state of suspended animation called the “tun” state—in which the body dries out and appears as a lifeless ball (or tun).

Even though they require surrounding water to grow and reproduce, limno-terrestrial tardigrades are well known for their remarkable capacity to endure extreme circumstances (such as dehydration, radiation, high and low temperature, high pressure, heavy metals and even outer-space conditions) when entering the …

Tardigrades are one of nature’s smallest animals. They are never more than 1.5 mm long, and can only be seen with a microscope. They are commonly known as “water bears”.

Maintain the culture jar under fluorescent lighting to keep the algae alive, and the tardigrades will continue to feed. In this setting, your culture may remain viable for days or even weeks. For long-term culturing, you will need spring water, culture dishes, and a supply of freshwater green algae.

The moon might now be home to thousands of planet Earth’s most indestructible animals. Tardigrades – often called water bears – are creatures under a millimetre long that can survive being heated to 150C and frozen to almost absolute zero.

Clumps of bacteria survived for three years on the outer surface of the International Space Station, pictured here. They were shielded from the hazards of space by only themselves. New research suggests such clumps might be able to survive a trip between Earth and Mars.

Demodex is a genus of tiny mites that live in or near hair follicles of mammals. Two species live on humans: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, both frequently referred to as eyelash mites, alternatively face mites or skin mites.

Predators include nematodes, other tardigrades, mites, spiders, springtails, and insect larvae; parasitic protozoa and fungi often infect tardigrade populations (Ramazzotti and Maucci, 1983). “Ecosystem grazers” such as freshwater crustaceans, earthworms, and arthropods also ablate tardigrade populations.