You’ve come to the right place to learn about tardigrades and microscope science.
Back when my children were in middle school, I had a lot of fun helping them with their science projects. My enjoyment of looking through the microscope led to a personal passion to make a contribution to science.

Thus began my own scientific study: a population survey of the little known creature (at the time), the tardigrade.

TEACHERS SPECIAL
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PARENTS and GRANDPARENTS SPECIAL
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STUDENTS SPECIAL
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MICROSCOPE FANS SPECIAL
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It all started when I hosted a video for Vice Media which went viral and thus popularized the tardigrade as the “The First Animal to Survive in Space.”
The Video
I became known as Mike Shaw, The Space Bear Hunter. With 10 million views, the “tardigrade” became the Number 1 search word on Google.
Cool Tardigrade T-Shirts
I also starred in the PBS video on YouTube, “Songs For Unusual Creatures,” and I’ve appeared on the most popular television show in Brazil, talking about tardigrades. Links to these videos at the bottom of this page.
You’ve probably noticed that I’ve written several books to assist teachers and their young scientists in similar projects.
See a free preview of my books by clicking on them:
The New York Times interviewed me in their Science Section when the American Museum of Natural History opened their tardigrade exhibit. Read the interview here.

Tardigrade models at the entrance of the 2015 Life at the Limits exhibition at the American Museum of Natural history Photo ©AMNH/R.Mickens
Some Important Tardigrade Links
Click Here for Tardigrade Supply List
OFFICIAL TARDIGRADA PAGE in Europe
Tardigrade Identification Assistance – FLIPBOOKS
Cryptobiosis – 30 Year Tardigrade Survival – FLIPBOOK
NY Times Article about Mike Shaw – Space Bear Hunter
Mike’s NJ TARDIGRADE SURVEY in pictures
Mike Shaw’s Scientific Paper – PDF FILE
Mike Shaw’s Scientific Paper – FLIPBOOK
How to Find Tardigrades Article in NYMS (New York Microscopial Society) Newsletter – FLIPBOOK
Get the FREE Starter Guide here…
HOW-TO GUIDE for BEGINNERS:
I’ve created a starter manual from which you will learn everything you need to know about finding tardigrades, collecting them, and looking at them through a simple inexpensive microscope.
Get the starter manual FREE by clicking the above book or link
And you’ll get occasional updates directly from me on tardigrades and teaching related science – easy to understand – and good to know.

The winning image was taken by Tagide deCarvalho (U.S.A.). The beautiful fluorescence image above shows the inside of a tardigrade with colorful details.
Some additional videos on Tardigrades and Microscope Fun…
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Songs for Unusual Creatures
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The Space Bear Hunter Answers Questions
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How to Find Tardigrades
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What Do Tardigrades Look Like?
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NEW! Tardigrade Course
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Cool Microscope Discoveries
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Tardigrades - Misunderstood Moss Piglets
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What are Rheinberg Filters?