<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/k7psvysw4vhab0do79vr_0.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/k7psvysw4vhab0do79vr_0.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/k7psvysw4vhab0do79vr_0.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > The National Institute of Polar Research in Tokyo were able to revive water bears that were frozen for over three decades. (National Institute of Polar Research) (National Institute of Polar Research)

An unusual animal has thrilled scientists with its mind-boggling ability to survive after being frozen for more than three decades.

Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are famously indestructable microscopic critters, and Japanese scientists at the National Institute of Polar Research made the stunning discovery that they were able to stay alive after experiencing a 30 year deep freeze.

According to the study , published in Cryobiology Magazine , two of the micro-animals and one of its eggs were found on moss gathered at the Japanese research station in Antarctica in November 1983. The creatures were later transported to Japan and kept in a freezer at a temperature of minus 4 degrees. The researchers thawed them out and provided moisture in May 2014. After a few days, the tiny animals were observed to be revived, marking the "longest recorded cryptobiotic duration of survival for tardigrades as animals or eggs."

While one of the specimens died after 20 days, the other survived the endeavor and reproduced shortly after its revival, laying 19 eggs. The revived egg was also able to hatch and later went on to reproduce successfully.

Tardigrades have long astounded researchers for their unique capcity to withstand extreme environmental pressures. "We have known for many years that cryptobiotic tardigrades can survive may years between active events, and survive extreme temperatures, even outer space," said William Miller, a tardigrade researcher at Baker University, in an email to weather.com. "Learning about the biological durability of this phylum of animals may contribute to our understanding of the life process and evolution of other life forms." He noted that there have been previous studies on tardigrades being thawed from samples collected and frozen for transport from Antarctica but that was "generally one season to another." "Tardigrades have many scientific questions but little economic value so research and learning is slow," Miller added. "It is information like this when backed up by data that will lead to understanding and true discovery."

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