If the end of the world is irreversible: who will be the last living thing on Earth

Life on Earth has existed for at least 3.7 billion years, evolving into "infinite forms, the most beautiful and wonderful," as Charles Darwin said.

But someday it may come to an end. And the last animal will probably not be a cockroach or a scorpion, and certainly not Homo sapiens. It will be a modest, slow-moving creature, IFLScience writes.

Why not cockroaches?

Cockroaches, like many other insects, are indeed very hardy. They can withstand high levels of radiation, survive without food and water for long periods, and are resistant to many insecticides. However, they are not as resistant as the slow-walker.

Humble tardigrade: tiny but incredibly hardy

Humble tardigrades are eight-legged microscopic animals that are known for their incredible resilience. To survive in extreme conditions, they enter a state of deep hibernation called cryptobiosis. In this state, they lose up to 95% of the water from their bodies and curl up into a dehydrated ball.

Thanks to this, they can withstand ultra-low temperatures down to -272.95°C and high temperatures up to 150°C. They can withstand extreme pressure, strong radiation, and the vacuum of space.

What threats can destroy life on Earth?

In addition to the death of the Sun, which will occur in 5 billion years, many other threats could lead to the extinction of all life on Earth:

• Nuclear war: radioactive fallout and nuclear winter could make the planet uninhabitable.
• Astronomical events: a gamma-ray burst, a large asteroid impact, or a supernova explosion could sterilize the Earth.

Why are humble tardigrade animals likely to survive?

Studies show that humble tardigrades can survive all of these threats. Even if a nuclear war or supernova explosion wipes out most life on Earth, humble tardigrades will likely be able to survive these events in a state of cryptobiosis. Once conditions on Earth become habitable again, they will be able to emerge from their dormant state and start a new evolutionary lineage.

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