We Built A Tardigrade Trap, And It Worked

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We don’t know if there are many rites of passage institutionalized among amateur microscopists. But we have to imagine that, as people find themselves navigating the microcosmos for the first time, they’re often on the lookout for tardigrades.
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SOURCES:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.nematologia.com.br/files/...
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[@journeytomicro]

This episode is sponsored by Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/microcosmos to get a free trial and 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

[@caiden-_-]

Can I use a T shirt to replace the filter? I tried a tea bag but it broke into pieces when I tried to cut it to flatten it out.

[@A3Kr0n]

All trapping must be done in accordance with state laws, regulations and licensing requirements.

[@fromfin90]

i think the master of tardigradeis in europe

[@zainmudassir2964]

Microscopic laws written in microscopic documents

[@pauljs75]

The fun part is applying the tardigrade tags to your catch.

[@BLOODKINGbro]

​@@pauljs75Dyetag. Seen people tag gmo crops.

[@jennifersaar1611]

What's the quota this year? 😁

[@ana-zb7ix]

So cute, the tardigrade’s feet over the glass slide. 😁

[@AlthenaLuna]

Our invert zoo (Invertebrate Zoology) professor mandated the tardigrade searching - she made us look for them as part of the course work. Being my major advisor on top of that, I ended up doing a literature review for her for my (Marine Biology) capstone about...essentially the likelihood of finding novel species in the rocky intertidal of the state we're in. Which she later did. I have, of course, shared some of your tardigrade episodes with her.

[@topaz.]

I don't know why I'm up at three in the morning watching this, but it seems really cool! Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@russelldofrane6614]

Same! lol

[@malapropter]

This channel is peak sleepy time vibes tbh

[@ChopBassMan]

It's because of your overwhelming quest for knowledge!!💖

[@isabellebergevin]

James is so clever! I wish that his next book could be a series of protocols for us other amateur microscopists to replicate some of his amazing observations!

[@stonefish1318]

Pls create the first microscopic zoo to visit in the entire world!

[@LuiyoSA]

microcosmos after a joint is just nuts

[@venetogardens]

I would love to see more on how James is able to raise the algae for food.

[@Chloroplastspectrum]

It really is a simple as: 1) put water in a container, 2) expose water to radiation between infrared and UV, 3) ensure some degree of fresh air to water interface, 4) algae appears out of nowhere! Obviously, there are some unspoken additional rules like, your water can’t be in solid form, your air shouldn’t contain a high percentage of methane, and so on. But really, don’t overthink it!

[@Padraigp]

Bucket of water windowsill some fertiliser a peice of already that you want to proliferate. I assume. Not a microbiologist just a housewife but if I wanted some already that's what I'd do.

[@Padraigp]

​@@ChloroplastspectrumI'd assume putting a bit of the already species you want to grow would be helpful. Like we have some red lager here which would grow just as well as green sheet algea whatever that's called ...the little slimey seaweed stuff... I'd probably put a bit of the green algea in the glass so that it would grow that and some fertiliser for it to consume like a bit of leaf would do ...I've got many buckets in my garden and they all grow different algeas ...the red one I think is an algea but might be a mold bit it grows under water so I'm not sure... but it's always interesting to see what grows in my buckets ...the cleanest buckets grow the red stuff the ones with some leaves in the bottom usually grow the green fast seaweed looking stuff and some grow a brown algea which just clings to the sides in sort of hair like filaments looks the most gross of all.

[@richardoleson7934]

This type of practical information is immeasurably helpful and interesting as well. Thanks for letting us look over your shoulder.

[@Welkins]

“Microbiologists hate him! Catch tardigrades easily with this one simple trick!”

[@PhoenixProdLLC]

Those little bears are so cute! 🥰

[@KY_CPA]

So amazing getting to see all the variety in a single slide 🤯😍❣️

[@HaXD1209]

Using the Baermann funnel to trap some water bears is really funny to me

[@justinheitzman9188]

Mr. Green, thank you for this great channel. A great escape from OUR world.

[@dsdsdsds10101]

The chill music in the background elevates this video to a new level, watching that footage was awesome!

[@rwshank]

What a fantastic way to start the morning. Hot cup of coffee and a new journey through the microcosmos. :-)

[@vampirebarbie_]

I’ve been trying to find tardigrades for more than a year and now it’s summer so all moss has dried 😭 will have to try in winter unless I manage to find some moss earlier, thank you so much!!

[@markd.s.8625]

the tardigrades are probably still there local mosses to areas that dry out will wake up when given rain water, the tardigrades will wake up with the moss i expect i have never looked for tardigrades because i do not have a microscope but i do collect mosses for my tiny paludariums and i wouodn tbe surprised to find some tardigrades if i do ever check under a microscope (even if i do live in the driest part of europe)

[@dumbbirdwayne]

I just adore the way they look, so many microscopic creatures are either weird orbs or long worm shapes, but tardigrades *look* like a standard animal, legs, feet, a head, body sections etc. they look like a little mammal-caterpillar creature! They’re just such cool little guys

[@dia9491]

Thank you for talking about the funnel. I found a truly amazing, prehistoric looking Tardigrade last summer. I’m going to try this when it warms up.

[@gerrimilner9448]

really enjoyed this, a tecnique i used at uni, then promptly forgot about in my lab job.

[@brendakrieger7000]

We need a tardigrade emoji!

[@thehodgeshouseart3070]

I love the detail so we can try this at home.

[@brianedwards7142]

As soon as it realised it's predicament the beast let out a mighty roar and threw it's bodyweight against the bars making the wranglers step back and hold their cattle prods a bit higher.

[@stevetaylor5436]

Nicely done!

[@lukecampis3479]

I stayed up for this Hank your welcome

[@SlinkySmith59]

Thanks! Im gonna go try this now!

[@Microskopic]

I'm 100% going to try this! 😍👏🏾

[@Eric-yj5xg]

This is really great! Thanks

[@ArielWaldman]

I use Kimwipes as my mesh which keeps the excess soil out while it filters.

[@Stipopedia]

These videos are so relaxing

[@obieobrien5883]

Tartigrades so cool!

[@dembro27]

So this is a Water Baermann funnel, since it captures water bears.

[@SusanS588]

Used a much, much, much larger Baermann funnel to harvest nematode larvae from our cultures for research. Never thought about using one for samples from nature.

[@2fungirlz]

Really appreciate your videos !!

[@aaronsmicrobes8992]

Ooo, I've gotta try this ASAP

[@lordlatt535]

Morning coffee and microbes. Sounds like the day is off to a great start 😁

[@bartsimpson1069]

gotta try this once it thaws up, thanks!

[@Mythreesons137.]

You guys are great.

[@vicaldama9314]

Appreciate this channel soo much. Awesome content. Been subbed for a while and can see the improvement in this channel.

[@Planet-of-the-Gibbons]

Great! I'm gonna try to watch some water bears with my basic pocket microscope. 🙂

[@Thrive910]

Thank goodness for James

[@osmia]

Way to go James!

[@Roflnomish]

tardigrades are such cool creatures! by far one of my favourite microscopic organisms, especially seeing as most other organisms the same size are parasites or other dangerous stuff XD

[@aplaceinthestars3207]

Once the debris was cleared, the screen looked like it was full of squirming pickles.

[@shawnholbrook7278]

My calendar arrived! Oh, happy day!

[@SynthRockViking]

Their flaps and folds are so cute I wonder how many I've eaten by accident lol

[@Lets-scope]

Cool video! I'll try trapping some and filming them in my lab! Tardigrades are still missing from my video collection right now...

[@TheJenGeo]

Amazing. A whole world going on beyond our sight. Imagine what lives inside our own bodies, thinking we are their planet. 😁

[@ourladyofsorrows60]

Thanks! I have been searching for water bears for years. Now I will try 😊 😂

[@jss302]

Omg they're adorable ❤

[@willis1712]

this is some CRISP footage

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

Super to see yet another use for the common windowscreen! I do so enjoy seeing average, everyday items being used in cooler, better ways. 😊👍🏼 And super to see Hank back up to full-steam ahead, as well. Warms the cockles of my heart - and any number of deities know that it's hard to keep one's cockles warm during an 🥶 icy cold polar vortex. 🥶 I mean, come on, -1°F -18.3°C should not be allowed to be THE HIGH in the middle of MO, USA! Still, Hank can definitely warm these cockles. Such an excellent voice for this work, and anyone can tell he loves what he does. That makes viewers like me love what he does, too. 😊

[@Acc3ssd3n13d4]

Tardigrades are immense.

[@TalRohan]

Useful stuff thankyou...I wonder if tardigrades from different locations react to each other differently to ones from the same place?

[@themirlabs]

I just ordered some cheese mesh. Ill be giving this a go. Love looking at little critters with my son under the microscope. Quick question: I assume tap water will be bad? better to get bottled water?

[@norxielimeslime]

Tap water has chlorine in it for the express purpose of killing micro organisms. It's part of what keeps our water safe! Regular bottled water might still be chlorinated, make sure to get "distilled" water. I would recommend getting distilled water, or getting fish "water conditioner" to add to a bucket of tap water.

[@vahannema]

what about rain- or groundwater?

[@norxielimeslime]

@vahannema Yes that would also be fine as long as the groundwater has not been treated by the public water services. (Again, when they treat water they add chlorine which is totally fine for humans but bad for microbes) Rainwater would definitely be fine

[@norxielimeslime]

You can also dechlorinate tap water by leaving it in the sun or under a UV light for a day or two. But this can be risky as there is no way to tell how much chlorine is left in the water at any given point. As well as a mosquito risk. (I know all this because of a fishkeeping hobby)

[@riligil7007]

Can we all just agree that uplifting tardigrades would be awesome in every way?

[@BOOGY110011]

my 2k monitor just shines when watching this channel in 4k resolution. MAGNIFICENT!

[@KSRKiller]

Baermann was born in Breslau, former Prussia, now Poland. He worked for the former Dutch East Indies administration as a foreign scientist.

[@Slattery777]

So cool

[@BobU2b1]

Yes, have used funnel. Some samples released a lot of debris.

[@Zoki4444]

Amazing footage! What equipment are you using here? I've never seen videos so sharp before, it's as if I am seeing into the microscope through my screen!

[@coltonroddy5655]

so sad catching this channel on the way out. the interest and passion for the subject make these videos so pleasant to watch as someone with no prior privy to such subjects. your quality is astounding, it is disheartening to learn you are departing from us, i hope your future endeavors bring you more fulfillment and happiness

[@micktepolt6276]

Tardigrades run !

[@tenmiltenmil1770]

Amazing … 👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@Not_a_number_]

The feet are soooo cute!! 🥰

[@JelMain]

Cosmo Sheldrake, the Tardigrade Song

[@the2nd965]

I love tardigrades

[@sciencenerd7639]

wow!

[@augustodelerme7233]

The hidden world around us - microcosmos

[@JohnMiller-mmuldoor]

This whole time I didn’t know it was Hank Green narrating! and now i’m just like “duh!” of course that’s why the voice sounds so familiar you dunce!

[@dingo1666]

They are too cute, please treat them accordingly!

[@pandoraalberts5267]

🤩😍🤩 gorgeous beasties!!! If you add water, use rainwater or reservoir water. Tapwater these days can kill...a lot of us. 🙏

[@randomizer3024]

I just had cookies with strawberry milk

[@todwstam]

nice 👍

[@silentchaos4430]

That’s dope

[@electromika]

awesome

[@Megaflytron.]

Strawberry cookies as well?

[@kimsteen8185]

Your mother

[@defeatSpace]

Tardigrades can survive the vacuum of space and make a good replacement for goldfish.

[@huletnadof313]

I've got some old moss, lichen, and cyanobacteria nitroglycerin cream collected from rocks and trees. Wondering what sort of tiny animals might be dormant in them.

[@LucasCarter2]

Tardigrades are unironically cute

[@WriteInAaronBushnell]

Been screaming at the void about political issues for an hour, so this is exactly what I needed

[@Spiralsinto]

I use your microscope and when I found my first tardigrade it was either dead or in cryptobiosis. But at the moment I was sad and excited at the same time. Then I took a great video of a tardigrade I named Sally. I used one of the rheinberg filters and it made her look bright blue. I know you will be ending the channel at the end of the year. But please keep all the videos up so we can still watch and share them. Thanks,.

[@kadian666]

I get the joke, a "tun" of tardigrades. Good one...

[@AGDinCA]

I've cultivated a small but healthy community of tardigrades. I check on them daily and try to add fresh lichen or moss regularly, as well as distilled water. One problem I am having though is a biofilm layer keeps settling on the surface and I'm afraid it will choke out the oxygen from the water. Any ideas on how to deal with the biofilm?

[@L.P.1987]

Entonces así es como el canal más serio de Biología conoció al tardiluche

[@acemi38]

Wooow, which microscope and camera ?

[@lukecampis3479]

Let’s go

[@philreasoner7922]

The final picture, around the 8 minute mark - the white parts - by any chance are those suspected microplastics? Are those issues with samples James collects?

[@creamsoda9427]

Aw the little one on the glass died :(

[@Slipperypuffin]

Oh whoops, I thought this was a mix-tape 😂😂😂

[@ClockBandit11]

Thought it was a vapormax sole on the thumbnail

[@enesgul3067]

Which camera and microscope do you use to obtain these images? Could you please share them? Thank you

[@Zenthias]

Cosmo Sheldrake brought me here.

[@Vancha112]

Heh, a dutch "Gustav karl" ^^

[@crash6269]

going to use Cheese cloth, plastic funnel and moldable rubber erasers for the bott om

[@Axgoodofdunemaul]

I'm planning to resume my tardigrade hunt after it thaws outside, which will be in a few days! Do you recommend any microscopes for amateurs?

[@hollyastuart]

Foldscopes are perfect for amateur microscopists!

[@666ingz]

Oh crap. I collected some moss-water about 6 weeks ago and stored it in a sealed tube but have been busy and haven't got around to looking at a sample under the microscope. I fear I have caused a Tardigrade massacre 😢 I thought they could survive outerspace. Shizzle.

[@sparkycorkers1196]

What is a good but reasonable camera to use? I have a bresser 5mp camera, but the quality is well bow what i can see in the view finders.

[@A_polyhedron9459]

Kewl

[@raylee8906]

Water Bear Trap 🪤 (imagine that emoji is a bear trap... y'know, with a spring-loaded jaw and sharp teeth and a chain)

[@irgod32]

What are the tiny ones zipping around in the background?

[@danielleohallisey4218]

What if we trap them, sort them according to size and breed the largest for 100 generations? Grizzly water bears? Moss boars instead of moss piglets? Where would it end?!

[@zincorbie]

I wonder how many tardigrades we consume in processed foods