Gastrotrichs: Four Day Old Grandmothers

These little hairy-bellied friends lead a very interesting life, albeit a short one.
Pick up your own Stentor pin!
store.dftba.com/products/sten...
Support Journey to the Microcosmos:
/ journeytomicro
Follow Journey to the Microcosmos:
Twitter: / journeytomicro
Facebook: / journeytomicro
More from Jam’s Germs:
Instagram: / jam_and_germs
KZbin: / @jamsgerms
Hosted by Hank Green:
Twitter: / hankgreen
KZbin: / vlogbrothers
Music by Andrew Huang:
/ andrewhuang
This video features the songs Rain II and Supergravity by Andrew Huang which are available here: www.andrewhuang.bandcamp.com
Journey to the Microcosmos is a Complexly production.
Find out more at www.complexly.com
SOURCES:
link.springer.com/chapter/10....
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/11/7/117
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/a...
books.google.com/books?id=kMO...
books.google.com/books?id=hwC...
www.sciencedirect.com/book/97...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/a...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

[@WulfgarOpenthroat]

I think I prefer to translate Gastrotrichs not as "hairy stomachs," but as "fuzzy tummies."

[@FastNCurious88]

WulfgarOpenthroat 🙌🏻💯💯💯

[@eac-ox2ly]

:3

[@orchdork775]

Yes

[@captainretro373]

WulfgarOpenthroat stomachs are the baggy sacks inside you that breakdown the food chunks you eat, a hairy one would tickle you from the inside

[@PurtyPurple]

@@captainretro373 Well we have lots of nerves in our digestive system and we don't feel our half digested food sliding along, so hopefully that particular stimuli isn't consciously felt.

[@TheRogueWolf]

Moral guardians in the 80's: "Babies having babies!" Gastrotrichs: "Why are they waiting so long? Do they think they'll live forever?!"

[@freddykingofturtles]

"This one's Neil" Perfection.

[@metalboy00]

Made me choke on my hit 😂

[@malleothaplumbah520]

is it bad if my mind autocompletes "Neil" to "Neil Kinnock"?

[@sitarnut]

Is that like Neil from the "Young Ones" ? Dig that music too...

[@Satellite_Of_Love]

@@sitarnut That would be very heavy, man! Boomshanka! I was thinking "Is Neil very technically proficient on drums?"

[@peterlewerin4213]

I look at cute kittens on other channels, a cute husky here, a cute cosplayer there. And then there's this channel. The microbes, well, ~~ But the narration is cute!

[@Nanamowa]

When Hank said how the cilia on the Gastrotrich's head were sensitive to the motion of the slide, I suddenly remembered that the camera was not panning over the environment, but that the environment was moving according to the slide. It really reminds you how perspective changes everything.

[@anteconfig5391]

I didn't even think about that. I actually thought they managed to make the scope itself move

[@shashwatchamoli7221]

I don't understand Can u please explain

[@anteconfig5391]

@@shashwatchamoli7221 When you use a microscope you have to put the microorganisms or cells on a thing called a 'slide' and that slide gets put on the stage of the microscope. The lens is what you look through but you don't move the lens to look all over the slide, you move the stage or the slide. Check out this crazy lady kzbin.info/www/bejne/haTNoWaNbMiaipY

[@shashwatchamoli7221]

@@anteconfig5391 Actually i know about the basic usage(lens,slide)but what is confusing me is that we actually don't love the lens and won't moving the slide create some disturbances which will affect the movement of these sensitive microbes. Thank you for replying btw....

[@anteconfig5391]

@@shashwatchamoli7221 sorry, I mean to reply yesterday but I guess I forgot. Yea, you're right moving the slide would do that but at the same time we're talking microns of motion so the liquid they're in shouldn't move very much. I guess that's why those hairy grandmas can sense this motion. I think that if they managed to move the lens instead that the microorganism wouldn't be able to feel the motion.

[@JamsGerms]

They really look like dragons, hope we could record a "dragonborn" tardigrade with them one day.

[@Sorkabeth]

"Dragonborn" tardigrades are a thing?

[@gregoryfenn1462]

Sorkabeth believe, believe, the Dragonborn comes.

[@xmimositox]

Dovahkiin...

[@CrimsonA1]

If that day comes, observing them in the lab would be nearly impossible. They'll FUS RO DAH themselves out of any slides they're put in...

[@syad1548]

ayyy

[@rotifer]

*Gastrotrich Grannies make the best cookies. My favorite are the activated sludge flavored ones.*

[@alphaamoeba]

Those are so damn good, i like when they're covered in Ribosome chips

[@The-Autistocrat-reeeee]

Help me how do i get back to ryans toy review

[@elipsorange]

Why you bold letters rotifer?

[@groxymcgroxhole8187]

I like rotifer meat (yum)

[@antonio1924]

Are you going to add any content on you channel or what?

[@hrdsht]

I just wanna take a moment to appreciate Andrew huang's music Gels soooo good with the video❤️

[@dgde6788]

If ever you guys do a behind the scenes episode or the like, I’d love to hear more about the music. It’s pretty unique amongst these kind of “nature-y” videos what with the bass heavy tones

[@avariceseven9443]

Speaking of the music, if you're into anime, the music has similar vibe or effect of those used in Mushishi. This channel actually reminds me of that anime. In Mushishi they explore the world of usually unseen "things" that affects the human world. And those things looks like these microscopic life. Its kinda similar how Greek mythologies try to explain everyday things using anthropomorphic gods but in Mushishi the things that causes maladies and stuff are these microbe-like things that are usually invisible to normal human. To anyone interested, it's a relaxing anime that covers mature and a bit of dark content.

[@IanGrams]

It's made by a really cool artist named Andrew Huang if you want to check out his channel: kzbin.info But I agree it would be cool to hear him talk about making music for JttM.

[@hrdsht]

+1 Andrew huang listen to us! And make a video about the creative process that goes on to make such compelling music

[@flowersstorms8863]

Andrew Huang's soundtrack was available as a Project For Awesome perk a week or so ago but I think the P4A site has closed now.

[@justsomenuts]

@@avariceseven9443 Mushishi is an AMAZING series and I recommend it even if you aren't a fan of anime. It's mellow and fascinating. And the soundtrack really is beautiful.

[@omnicognatee]

"it's 1:24 am i should probably go to bed" *sees new microcosmos video* *sigh* "fine"

[@MagicJewel1]

So true lol

[@animaster2307]

I usually watch these if I can't sleep.

[@AaronShenghao]

I put a playlist on my phone and listen to it

[@PikaPetey]

I dig this channel

[@thesignless471]

Seriously? I see you everywhere!

[@billfred9411]

Yea I'm addicted to this channel. I absolutely hate the way he talks when he narrates but I always find what he's talking about extremely interesting.

[@Tullio238]

It's amazing how with a small change of focus the already-magnified water suddenly comes alive with swarms of bacteria

[@CSGraves]

One of my cats sat transfixed watching most of this video. Friggin' adorable.

[@planclops]

*Sees title* “Brother pitted against brother. Babies havin’ babies” - Strong Bad, 2004

[@kostaschousianiths6076]

I want this series to never end... : (

[@qwertyuoip1234]

This reminds me a lot of “true facts” but on the microscale and more informative

[@evilsharkey8954]

Qwertyuoip 123, “that’s how gastrotrichs dyoo”

[@assarstromblad3280]

@@evilsharkey8954 They dig a little hidey hole where they lay their eggs, which later hatches to become little gastrotrich bebbes.

[@spiercephotography]

Ohhhh, a microorganism i’ve never heard of before! Fascinating! And cute... and kinda hairy. Perfect watching before bedtime.

[@rafanifischer3152]

I love your videos. The soft background music, the mellifluous voice of the narrator, and the beautiful visuals. It's like a dream world. Thank you very much.

[@hallowstar4857]

I love gastrotrichs! I did a mini lecture on them in my first year at uni! I saw one by accident down the microscope during a practical session and I loved the look of them, so alien, so I asked to present them in a section of a lecture

[@Beeba10]

"We name individuals all the time - this one's Neil -" Idk why, but I found that incredibly adorable. Hi, Neil!

[@thesoulkz]

Ah yes i love to go to my subscriptions and see a big thumbnail that says "hairy grandmas"

[@tsaszymborska7389]

Amazing pictures. James really is a master of microscopes.

[@6Twisted]

Having a ruler next to the magnification level to indicate the size of a millimeter for example would be incredibly useful for understanding the size of these animals. 400x means nothing but 0.06-2mm is understandable.

[@samhaines8228]

agreed. I suspect there is some sort of traditional reason around indicating the level of magnification, but sense of scale would also be helpful.

[@djinnisequoia]

Another wonderful installment. One of my cats continues to go out of his way to watch these with me.

[@zhuoli2139]

the best protozoology education content ever

[@FredSlocombe]

3:40 This one looks like it has a number on it, in almost perfectly proportioned sans-serif font..

[@bad3nergytroll]

haha it does. 88, 99, or 66? I can't tell.

[@JulesColour]

28 or 29 :?

[@evilsharkey8954]

29

[@rainbowosprey1619]

CL Melonshark nice

[@johnalanelson]

Looks like 88 to me.

[@aname3017]

This channel is soooo peaceful. Thanks to all who made these beautiful videos.

[@verdatum]

This channel keeps getting better and better. The footage in the past couple videos has been jaw dropping.

[@Random3716]

Hairy creatures that are ready to give birth once born. They're tiny tribbles.

[@hamjudo]

There are more extreme cases. There are creatures that are not only born pregnant, if conditions are wrong for giving birth for an extra day, the baby inside can become pregnant.

[@DaydreamingArtist322]

hamjudo What are those creatures called?

[@ChainsGoldMask]

I watch this and daily dose of internet on my lunch breaks. They both calm me down and astound me.

[@matheuspaog]

I always get sleepy watching these videos, and this is not a negative critic, the background music, his soft voice, everything calms me down

[@KenLikeEh123]

This is genuinely a insanely great channel. I’ve not even got a clue why I’m watching this but it’s absolutley mental. Top marks

[@sparebears4221]

Thank you as always, A Wonder to behold. Thank you Hank, Jam, Andrew and the whole crew. This really is the only thing on you tube that is always simply 100% interesting, amusing and delightful. I could happily watch these films all day long.

[@4saken404]

I like that shot that starts at about 8:08 where the microscope is out of focus and we can just make out the spines on its back. In the other shots you can see the side spines but in that one you get a much better view of how they are actually arranged.

[@glb1993]

The most amazing and fascinating thing to me is knowing that each moment of every day on this planet there is this tiny unseen world that is thriving and living all without majority of us ever seeing them. Thank you for this channel on youtube you have created, I love anything related to biology so micro biology is no different to me ^_^ . Wish things like this would have been done in my school curriculum when I was growing up but no it didn't happen, keep on going guys continue this wonderous work :).

[@zhuoli2139]

wow I read about small phylums like gastrotrich and chaetognatha since high schools but this is the first time ever I see their live video, satisfied my curiosity so much

[@evilsharkey8954]

酥饼, I wonder if James will ever find chaetognaths. They’re pretty badass looking for micro critters but probably a bit larger than he’s interested in.

[@graphite2786]

Wouldn't it be awesome if they went to Greenland and found Limnognathia maerski ! It's the only species in it's phylum !

[@zhuoli2139]

@@evilsharkey8954 probably too hard to cultivate them anyway, it looks like James only does freshwater meiofauna and microfauna

[@rotifer]

*Calling Tardigrades "cute?" Am I a joke to you mortals?!*

[@rqzzlldqzzls]

yes

[@blumac9801]

Rotifer you sure are

[@rqzzlldqzzls]

@@blumac9801 a lie

[@advicepirate8673]

Ye be wise not ta draw from that well what be tha endless malign intent of tha rotifer... Laddie.

[@josephnevin]

What's your beef with the poor Moss Piglet, Mr. Rotifer?

[@raskov75]

Nice to meet you, Neal.

[@Unitos_]

This Channel makes me love science even more. An impressive feat for someone so jaded as I am with modern stimuli

[@KombuchaBuzzed]

Hairy stomachs never looked so good :D Everything on this channel is so fascinating.

[@ernestgoebiowski1350]

This channel is only thing I watch on ytb now. I love the way you take us into microcosmos 👏👌

[@afhdfh]

This channel has easily become one of my favourites!

[@captainbongwater7790]

“Oh boy, I’m having a normal day. I hope nothing strange happe-“ *“HAIRY GRANDMA”*

[@fritzwilhelm8258]

We love you for who you are, Neil!

[@ChimpFromSpace]

It's like a cross between a rotifer, and a nematode...

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

Thanks, Hank, for this glimpse in to the meiocosmos!

[@Wired_User]

Sometimes I wish I was a naturalist in the 1800’s, so I could name something really cool and wild, like “vampire squid from Hell”.

[@MicrobialLuke]

So awesome. I wish I could find cool things like this more often. I love the reference to Shakespeare.

[@lorenzmenke3121]

What a fantastic channel, I am binge watching all of your episodes.

[@sitarnut]

"We should "Scale back a bit"... ha ha John will have to be sent to the punitentiary.

[@GoranMarkovic85]

One of the best channel on KZbin. Amazing work!

[@revenevan11]

What a wonderful way to start my morning... school districts near my job are delayed from snow and I need every second I can get, but this video is worth it!

[@balazsvarga1823]

The coolest thing about this little animal is that it is shaped so phallicly, in addition to being hairy.

[@murphdog9506]

Love this guys narrating

[@LouisGedo]

*Journey to the Microcosmos is just awesome!*

[@ichomann2]

Veganism defeats carnist nonsense every single time 👍

[@LouisGedo]

@@ichomann2 LOL.......you found me!

[@amef15]

I think it's so unbelievable how easy it is for these organisms to swim in and out of focus so easily, even though they are in a very thin slice of water. At that scale, it might as well be a pool meters deep!

[@LineaDeus]

I don't know what makes this more fascinating. The science.... Or the fact that the narrator sounds like Q from Star Trek.

[@BallistX]

The last time i was this early the microcosmos was all there was!

[@thesmalfvoyager8946]

There are animals between micro and macro cosmos.I understand that life's origin better with this video thank you soo much.

[@DawntoduskNetAuTas]

Amazing photography!

[@steven992al5]

one of the most interesting channels on this plattform :) Glad i found it.

[@frankzaffuto3670]

8:17 Now that you've said it, I'll bet one of your viewers will now spend a week tracking and filming a singular gastrotrich through it's whole lifespan, hoping beyond hope that there are no predators in the sample or at least none within range of eating the subject and getting that precious information

[@bajajones5093]

absolutely wonderful. thank you. beyond words.

[@Dr.Reason]

Amazing: the first video I’ve seen here that didn’t mention “Billions of years” or try to speculate on its evolution. Great video! ( but I did expect to see an egg laid.)

[@jemlittle1787]

My fav 10 mins of the day is seeing a new upload from you guys

[@depausvandelilithkerk5785]

Reminds me of the song "no time to waste, I got to move with haste, sorry baby but I have no time to waste"

[@jonsey3645]

Love this stuff James and gang!

[@zolacnomiko]

Ah, okay, when Hank said "hairy stomach" I was imagining the organ, stomach, being hairy, either internally or externally, and couldn't figure out what the function of that would be. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out! Turns out it's a hairy belly, not a hairy stomach. I am outraged.* False advertising, Hank. False. Advertising. *I am not outraged.

[@ShirinRose]

Same, I was so confused at first

[@aselrahc]

Such a cool channel! Thank you for this!

[@tannerriley7485]

This channel is a delight to discover, as a nascent microbio-lover. I want more bionerd merch! I haven't found much that I like, but the stentor pin is so cool. Please give us more micro-cosmonaut merch!

[@CaveyMoth]

I can imagine the microscope master's frustration as he follows these hairy bois around.

[@cristea_mihaela]

This Gastrotrich is the "Kiwi bird" of the microcosmos.

[@3roderick3]

Could you make a size chart at some point? I'd love to see some of our favorite creatures side by side so we can compare sizes!

[@alexander1989x]

The only "Hairy Grandmas" videos acceptable to watch.

[@forcecristal]

he looks like the "Thing that drifted ashore" from Junji Ito.

[@Gormancraft]

And I would like to say thank you to Niel. You missed them in your acknowledgements!

[@AFJ_]

This channel is so underrated.

[@eyeofthebeholder_]

In my invertebrates class we called Gastrotrichs "Water Kitties" because they look like they have whiskers. I think that's a more flattering name.

[@moptisevare183]

Fantastic work, my dream channel! Thank you, thank you, thank you...

[@R0M4Nlegions]

My cats love watching this channel

[@ginnyjollykidd]

Gastrotrychs are the archaic versions of Tribbles! 😁 (Well, Dr. McCoy did say that he surmised they were born pregnant!)

[@wizzardofpaws2420]

Beautiful and intriguing as all your videos are

[@outsideaglass]

So cool, thanks for sharing!

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and gave it a Thumbs Up

[@pamrowbottom8391]

I got 2 microscopes for my class room for Christmas from my husband 😂 cause he saw I've been watching your videos they're awesome mine aren't as good as yours though I don't care it's this classrooms first pair I think it's good for a classroom even for home schooling 😂 I'm 37 and I'm still in a hands on classroom mode my whole life I have OCD and have to learn 100 new things a day or I go nutz one of your videos covers at least 10 which is good sometimes I have to watch a video a couple times over just out of pure enjoyment I love tardigrades they're awesome creatures thank you for the footage

[@pamrowbottom8391]

I know about them just can't wait to use them

[@AdamShaiken]

I had a few hairy grandmas onced !!!

[@kartikeypatel7426]

Well information. Good show. Well information.

[@vdiitd]

8:32 what are those spiral snake like things??

[@jonclarke8397]

Spirochetes, a bacterial phylum that's pretty recognizable by this shape and motility pattern. Some examples: Treponema pallidum (causative agent of syphilis), or Borellia burgdorferi (causative agent of Lyme disease).

[@cockthesheep3051]

Are you sure those aren't sperm cells?

[@petergray2712]

@@cockthesheep3051 Sperm cells are divided into ovoid body and a flagella tail. Spirochetes have undivided corkscrew shaped bodies like the ones in the video, without flagellum.

[@LeftSoulz]

@@jonclarke8397 was about to ask about that. thanks for clarifying. and also, i had studied this some days ago in class and found it interesting to see on the video these types of creatures.

[@wandabissell]

@@jonclarke8397 are these spirochetes all either S twist or Z twist?

[@mydesirescometrue]

These guys are the tribbles of the micro cosmos

[@freddykingofturtles]

It looks a bit like the Tarrasque. Super cute.

[@Desimcd]

Hi Neil! Hope you had a good life

[@xAliceisAlivex]

So fascinating

[@NewMessage]

Their waxing bill must be huge.

[@Rhyswithoutherspoon]

So many cool facts!

[@klokanizam]

Good luck Neil!

[@flamencoprof]

Is there any practical limitation that prevents mounting a microscope upside-down to enable views from below? I can't think of one myself.

[@happy_amoeba]

i guess they would have to have a special microscope ordered, as they cant hold it upside down (cause of the slight movements affecting the creatures) and maybe they dont want to damage the microscope by nailing it to a table or something.

[@1OutOf8Billion]

Gastrotrichs are the kiwis of the microcosm.

[@jimi02468]

Tardigrade is my favorite. It's like a microscopic bear.

[@laurarosariosanchez731]

I'm obsesesed with this channel

[@sepehrshakeribaviloliyaie2440]

Is there any way to buy the music Andrew made for these videos? really love it.

[@Nobody_Special310]

Babies havin' babies!