"Uncovering the Weird and Incredible Survival Secrets of Tardigrades Against Radiation"
Scientists have discovered a new mechanism by which tardigrades, also known as water bears, are able to survive high doses of radiation. When exposed to gamma rays, the tardigrades ramped up production of DNA repair genes, allowing them to repair most of the radiation-induced DNA damage within 24 hours. This remarkable ability to sense and respond to ionizing radiation could provide insights for protecting other organisms from radiation damage.