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IISc Revives Tardigrades on ISS, Witnesses Reproduction

5/27/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Indian Institute of Science sent fluorescent tardigrades to the ISS on Axiom-4, where astronauts rehydrated them and saw walking, feeding and reproduction in microgravity.
The tardigrades were dried into tun states, packed, launched, and revived on orbit via a live video feed viewed from Bengaluru.
Sandeep Eswarappa’s team is comparing gene expression of space-flown tardigrades with ground controls, after earlier work showed intrinsically disordered proteins form a protective glassy matrix.

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Story summary

Indian Institute of Science sent fluorescent tardigrades to the ISS on Axiom-4, where astronauts rehydrated them and saw walking, feeding and reproduction in microgravity.
The tardigrades were dried into tun states, packed, launched, and revived on orbit via a live video feed viewed from Bengaluru.
Sandeep Eswarappa’s team is comparing gene expression of space-flown tardigrades with ground controls, after earlier work showed intrinsically disordered proteins form a protective glassy matrix.