Scientists Find Tardigrade With Glowing Blue Protective Shield
- 4 years ago
BENGALURU, INDIA — Researchers in India have discovered a species of tardigrade that absorbs UV radiation and emits blue light.
Writing in the journal Biology Letters, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science describe how they discovered a new species of tardigrade on a moss-covered concrete wall at the institute.
The scientists found that when they exposed this species, called Paramacrobiotus BLR strain, and another species, H exemplaris, to 15 minutes of germicidal levels of UV exposure, Paramacrobiotus survived. H exemplaris did not. When treated with a dose four times as strong, 60 percent went on to live for 30 more days.
The scientists found that the reddish brown tardigrade used a protective fluorescent shield that absorbs the damaging ultraviolet radiation and emits it back out as harmless blue light.
Writing in the journal Biology Letters, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science describe how they discovered a new species of tardigrade on a moss-covered concrete wall at the institute.
The scientists found that when they exposed this species, called Paramacrobiotus BLR strain, and another species, H exemplaris, to 15 minutes of germicidal levels of UV exposure, Paramacrobiotus survived. H exemplaris did not. When treated with a dose four times as strong, 60 percent went on to live for 30 more days.
The scientists found that the reddish brown tardigrade used a protective fluorescent shield that absorbs the damaging ultraviolet radiation and emits it back out as harmless blue light.