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Scientists find tardigrade with a glowing blue protective shield

October 20, 2020 / 10:54 AM
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Sharjah24 – Reuters: 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.
October 20, 2020 / 10:54 AM

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