In a recent study, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles discovered a previously unknown ability of embryonic brine shrimp—the famed sea monkeys—to be resilient to environmental stress. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, suggest that certain aspects of development can be more robust than previously thought.

For many years, brine shrimp have been a popular pet in households around the world. But research into these tiny creatures has revealed a remarkable capacity for resilience. In the new study, the UCLA team found that the embryos of brine shrimp have an extraordinary ability to withstand environmental stress, such as changes in temperature or salinity. By studying the development of these embryos, the researchers were able to better understand how the embryos can maintain their form and function despite being subjected to difficult conditions. The findings could have implications for a wide range of biological processes, from understanding how organisms adapt to their environment to designing more robust artificial systems.

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source: Phys.org