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Antarctic insects make natual anti-freeze to survive cold mongabay.com April 2, 2007
Onychiurus arcticus, an insect from the Arctic, "uses protective dehydration to survive harsh Arctic winters," explains a news release from the Society for Experimental Biology. "This means that water is lost from the body across a diffusion gradient between the animals' super-cooled body fluids and ice in the surroundings." "During this process the body loses all its water and you end up with a normal looking head, and a body which looks like a crumpled up crisp packet when it is fully dehydrated. But add a drop of water and it all goes back to normal!" Dr Melody Clark, from the British Antarctic Survey.
Scientists plan to study the creatures further. Their anti-freezing properties could have commercial applications. This article is based on a news release from the Society for Experimental Biology. Comments? News options
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