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This publication has surprised many experts in astrobiology: researchers from the Institute of Extremophile Biology in Montpellier (IBEM) and the Center for Astrobioaquatical Adaptations (CAA) in Copenhagen claim to have genetically modified tardigrades to make them capable of surviving... on the surface of the Sun.
These microorganisms, already known for their astonishing resistance to the vacuum of space, ionizing radiation, and temperatures near absolute zero, have just crossed a new threshold. The team of Dr. Julien Labrus (IBEM) and Prof. Sophie Salmo (CAA) has successfully introduced DNA sequences from two ultra-resistant organisms into their genome:
- Deinococcus radiodurans, the "indestructible" bacteria capable of withstanding radiation doses lethal to humans;
- Thermus aquaticus, a thermophilic archaea thriving in hot springs above 70°C (158°F).
The result? A new strain, named theliograd (for tardi-helio-grad), which reportedly survived laboratory tests simulating temperatures of 1,500°C (2,732°F) for several minutes.
Tests in (almost) real conditions
To verify these results, scientists collaborated with the Synchrotron Soleil-LURE in Orsay, where theliograds were exposed to plasma mimicking solar flares. Against all odds, the organisms not only survived but showed signs of metabolic activity, thanks to a newly synthesized protein: Solarbindin.
"This molecule acts as a thermal shield at the cellular level," explains Dr. Labrus. "It encapsulates essential proteins and protects them from denaturation, much like a miniature spacesuit."
Toward solar... colonization?
But the team didn't stop there. In collaboration with Prof. Éric Sparus from the Marine Genomics Institute, they introduced genes from Lophius piscatorius, the deep-sea anglerfish, known for its bioluminescence.
"The idea was to enable theliograds to communicate with each other in the chaotic environment of the Sun," explains Prof. Sparus. "By emitting coordinated light flashes, they could theoretically form information exchange networks... even at 5,500°C (9,932°F)."
Curiously, the funding for this research doesn't come solely from space agencies. The Thau Oceanographic Observatory, specialized in shellfish studies, contributed 30% of the budget.
"We're working on bio-inspired materials to protect space probes," explains their spokesperson. "The scallop shell, with its mother-of-pearl structure, is 3,000 times more resistant than Kevlar. By combining it with graphene, we've created a revolutionary thermal shield."
Thus, the first theliograds could be sent toward the Sun as early as 2027, reaching our star in 2030 aboard a probe... covered in shells.
Prof. Sparus concludes: "If all goes well, in 5 years, our tardigrades will be dancing salsa in solar prominences. Well, 'dancing'... they'll be vaporized in 0.02 seconds, but theoretically, they'll have survived."
