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The creature behind the claim is a tardigrade—specifically Milnesium tardigradum, named in a 2017 study of extreme threats to life on Earth. The researchers did not establish that tardigrades would be the last species alive or the final species to go extinct. Their narrower finding is that some astrophysical events capable of devastating surface life may still leave life in deep oceans.
What the study actually asked
In “The Resilience of Life to Astrophysical Events,” published in Scientific Reports on July 14, 2017, David Sloan, Rafael Alves Batista and Abraham Loeb considered large asteroid impacts, supernovae, gamma-ray bursts and passing stars. Rather than predict which species would disappear last, they asked how likely such events are to sterilize an Earth-like planet. Read the study in Scientific Reports.
For their analysis, the authors used the energy required to boil all liquid ocean water as a proxy for removing deep-water refuges and completely sterilizing the planet. That is a model choice, not a direct observation that every organism would die as soon as the oceans reached a particular state. The paper describes its resulting estimate as an upper bound on the rate of complete sterilization, subject to assumptions about the planet, its temperature and oceans, and the organisms considered.
Why tardigrades enter the picture
Tardigrades are microscopic animals known for tolerating extreme conditions for limited periods. The paper reports that tardigrades can survive for a few minutes at temperatures from −272 °C to 150 °C, pressures ranging from virtually 0 to 1,200 atmospheres, and radiation doses around 5,000–6,200 Gy. These are reported tolerance limits, not evidence of indefinite survival at those extremes.
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- Size:9" 22cm
- No plastic pellets or bean bag filler.
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The study’s planetary argument is not simply that a tardigrade can withstand a punishing temperature or radiation dose. For many of the hazards it considered, the oceans themselves could shield organisms living at depth. A disaster that kills humans and surface-dwelling life therefore need not remove every refuge for life on Earth.
What “last to go extinct” gets wrong
The paper does not rank all Earth’s species by extinction order, nor does it compare cockroaches, rats and tardigrades in a controlled survival contest. Its focus is selected astrophysical hazards and the much narrower question of complete planetary sterilization. “Could be the last” is a popular way to describe tardigrade resilience, not a result that identifies a certain final survivor.
Rank #2
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That distinction matters: a species might outlast humans or survive a catastrophe that devastates ecosystems without being the last species alive. Complete sterilization means something far more sweeping—the loss of all life, including organisms protected in deep-water environments.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How rare does complete sterilization appear in the model?
Sloan, Alves Batista and Loeb estimated fewer than 10−7 complete-sterilization events per billion years under their model’s assumptions. This is a modeled upper-bound rate, not a measured frequency, a guarantee about Earth’s future, or a probability that humans will survive. It also says nothing about the order in which particular species might go extinct.
Rank #3
- COLLECTIBLE WATERBEAR PLUSH: Meet your new favorite adventure companion! This cuddly water bear plushie brings the fascinating world of tardigrades to life in a fun and huggable way. Add this one-of-a-kind plushie to your collection, and celebrate the tiny, resilient creature that can survive extreme conditions—truly a marvel of nature!
- EDUCATIONAL BIOLOGY GIFTS: This 6” Tardigrade toy features an anatomical design with embroidered details. Comes with an information card filled with fascinating facts about the incredible Moss Piglet. Smart tardigrade gifts that provide a fun and memorable way to learn about science and microbiology. This quirky plushie is not just cute; it’s a fantastic way to introduce the fascinating science of tardigrades and their resilience to kids and curious minds alike. Size: 6” x 4” x 3”
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As Rafael Alves Batista put it in a 2017 Smithsonian Institution report, “Life on this planet can continue long after humans are gone.” The statement captures the gap between human vulnerability and the far more demanding condition of erasing all life; it is not a promise that tardigrades are guaranteed to be last. Read the Smithsonian report.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Ultra-Soft &Huggable MaterialCrafted from high-grade short plush and filled with fluffy PP cotton, our beige water bear plush delivers an incredibly soft, skin-friendly touch; it’s highly elastic, resistant to squeezing, and retains its shape perfectly for long-term cuddling.
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Rank #4
- High-quality materials： The cute tardigrade stuffed animal is made of soft and fluffy fabric. It feels very comfortable and very soft. The tardigrade plush is 10 inches in length.
- Use vacuum packaging； Take out the tardigrade plush doll, please press left and right, it will return to its original shape within 24 hours.
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- Holiday gifts: Tardigrade stuffed animal can be used as children’s birthday gifts or gifts between friends. You can watch TV with the plush tardigrade doll, rest, relax, and sleep in the living room.
- High-quality service: If you receive a tardigrade plush but you are not satisfied or have quality problems, you can apply for return or exchange. If you have any questions, I will solve your problem as soon as possible.
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