The Frosty Bdelloid Rotifers
In June 2021, something was discovered that rocked scientists and even surprised Captain America. Scientists were doing a study on Bdelloid Rotifers, also known as “wheel animals” that were taken from frozen Siberian permafrost where they had been for around 24,000 years. The species was somehow revived, which was pretty crazy to hear. It is not exactly new for microscopic species like this to go into some sort of hibernated sleep when trapped in ice. Yet it is odd to see it happen in a species that was frozen for 24,000 years. If that was not enough, the species is still able to reproduce through their asexual process.
A lot of species are damaged by the formation of ice crystals, even if they were able to survive a long time on ice. However, these rotifers somehow protected their cells and organs from being damaged at all. No one knows how exactly they were able to avoid damage at all nor how they could both survive and still reproduce. Making them mysterious animals scientists will be studying long-term. Some may wonder if this could be done with one species, can it be done with humans? The quick answer is no, and that comes down to our bodies being so complex by comparison. The rotifers are so uncomplex, they are able to do this much easier.