How do tardigrades adapt to their environment?
1 Answer
The scientific community isn't exactly sure how the tardigrade survives extreme conditions, but suspect it may have something to do with their "tun state."
Explanation:
Tardigrades are some of the toughest creatures on the planet, and because of their ability to survive harsh extremes, they are often referred to as extremophiles (lovers of extremes). While these microscopic bear-like creatures spend most of their time sucking water out of moss, tardigrades are able to withstand temperatures as hot as 
Metabolism and Anhydrobiosis:
Most creatures require water to break down food into energy, and to grow. Water is critical to most of the functions within our cells, as well. But tardigrades go through a process called anhydrobiosis to survive without water for long periods of time, by entering the "tun state."
The Tun State:
When tardigrades run out of water, they enter their "tun state." The tardigrade rolls up into a ball, similar to how roly-poly's or pill bugs do. The tardigrade's cells begin to form a matrix that locks everything inside the cells in place, to prevent molecules like DNA and proteins from breaking apart or fusing together in the absence of water. When the tardigrade is reintroduced to water, the matrix dissolves.
Why this Matters:
Scientists still aren't exactly sure how tardigrades survive other harsh conditions like exposure to radiation, but they suspect the tardigrade's resistance to dry conditions may have something to do with it. In the meantime, the scientific community still continues to research how tardigrades survive in extreme environments through missions like the European Space Agency's "Tardigrades in Space" program (abbreviated to TARDIS, from the popular British TV Show Doctor Who), which could help develop super-resistant crops and potentially colonize harsh environments on other planets.
