Tardigrades are well-known for being nearly indestructible. Now, scientists have reanalyzed ancient, amber-encased fossils, revealing when the super-tough critters may have first got the ability to enter a "tun state," which helps them survive in extreme environments.
The new findings could also explain how tardigrades survived major extinction events, including the "Great Dying," which wiped out around 90% of the planet's species around 250 million years ago.
