Emily+Yao+RP+Post+2

1. Your research question(s) as of today How does a tardigrade survive extreme environments? (unusual science) 2. Title of source Extreme Animals: Tardigrades 3. Author of source and/or the organization that has published it By Leslie Mullen, NASA- AstroBio 4. Link directly to source, if possible [] 5. Where and when you've accessed the source (database, website, etc.) May 22, 2014 website via [] 6. Compose a SOAPSTone identifying the speaker, occasion, audience, purpose, subject, and tone Speaker: Leslie Mullen Occasion: Tardigrades Audience: anyone interested in tardigrades Purpose: basic overview of tardigrades Subject: tardigrades Tone: informative 7. 2-4 sentence summary (or abstract) of the source Tardigrades are able to "cheat death" via a method called "anhydrobiosis" which is a type of cryptobiosis. Tardigrades are able to be dried out and revived again, in this dried out/"anhydrobiotic state" tardigrades are able to withstand hostile conditions. 8. The main point, thesis, or claim the author makes Tardigrades are a peaking interest in the scientific community for their ability to survive the harshest of conditions even outer space. 9. Please explain: to what extent are you persuaded by the author's treatment of the topic The author's use of a few nay-saying statements dims my enthusiasm a little, but that does not mean that tardigrades are not just as interesting to me as they were before. 10. Key sentences or passages - Transcribe, word-for-word, a total of 4-6 sentences from this source that will likely be worth citing from when you get down to sharing your research findings. "Because of their ability to withstand hostile conditions, tardigrades and other cryptobiotic organisms are of interest to astrobiologists. Some tardigrades can survive in temperatures as low as minus 200 degrees Celsius (minus 328 F). Others can survive temperatures as high as 151 degrees C (304 F). Tardigrades can survive the process of freezing or thawing, as well as changes in salinity, extreme vacuum pressure conditions, and a lack of oxygen. Tardigrades also are resistant to levels of X-ray radiation that are hundreds of times more lethal to humans and other organisms."