Are Water bears the toughest organisms?

Water bears can hack temperatures as low as -457 degrees, heat as high as 357 degrees, and 5,700 grays of radiation, when 10-20 grays would kill humans and most other animals. The animals can also live for a decade without water and even survive in space. read more

Johann August Ephraim Goeze originally named the tardigrade kleiner Wasserbär (Bärtierchen today), meaning "little water bear" in German. The name Tardigradum means "slow walker" and was given by Lazzaro Spallanzani in 1776. The name "water bear" comes from the way they walk, reminiscent of a bear's gait. read more

They are considered the toughest organisms on the planet and now scientists have discovered that the resilience of tiny water bears could be due to the fact they 'steal' DNA from other organisms. read more