Scientists reveal the only animal likely to survive the end of the world– www.unilad.com

Researchers from the University of Oxford and Harvard University were able to narrow down the creature that has the best chance of survival in a 2017 study which looked at the resilience of life to astrophysical events.

This study went beyond our atmosphere to look at potential threats to the planet, forgetting about deforestation, wildfires or nuclear war to instead focus on world-ending events that might come from space.

Focusing on events that would ‘completely sterilise an Earth-like planet’, the researchers looked at three astrophysical sources – supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, large asteroid impacts – and passing-by stars…

That creature is the tardigrade, and if you’ve never heard of it, don’t worry – people don’t exactly keep them as pets.

Also known as ‘water bears’ or ‘moss piglets’, tardigrades are near-microscopic aquatic animals with flat heads, eight legs and plump bodies.