Part 11/12:
Finally, we encounter the tardigrades or "water bears," micro-animals that can endure almost unimaginable conditions. They can survive extreme temperatures, high levels of radiation, and even the vacuum of space by entering a cryptobiotic state that allows them to withstand extreme dehydration and pressures. Their resilience to adverse conditions exemplifies the tenacity of life and the potential applications of their studies in biotechnology and astrobiology.