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.
Writing in science project notebook
One of my daughters writing in her science project notebook
Thus began my own scientific study: a population survey of the little known creature (at the time), the tardigrade.
Tardigrade, Milnesium Species
Tardigrade, Milnesium Species, from my population survey, covering the state of New Jersey. Survey and publication of a scientific paper took about 10 years from start to finish.

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

More in my Tardigrade T-Shirt Store!
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:

Tardigrade Science Project Book
Tardigrade Science Project Book. Click the image to preview it.
Tardigrade Quiz and Fact Book
Tardigrade Quiz and Fact Book. Click the image to preview it.
Your Microscope Hobby
Your Microscope Hobby Book. Click on the image to preview it.

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

TARDIGRADA

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

Martin Mach’s Site

Dave Walker’s Backyard Hunt

How to Find Tardigrades Article in NYMS (New York Microscopial Society) Newsletter – FLIPBOOK

Worlds Oldest Tardigrade
Found In New Jersey
PDF FILE

Worlds Oldest Tardigrade
Found In New Jersey
FLIP BOOK

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.

How To Find Tardigrades
How To Find Tardigrades FREE Book CLICK Here

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.

This is the 2019 USA winning photo of the Olympus Image of the Year Award. Tardigrade in fluorescent imaging.
This is the 2019 USA winning photo of the Olympus Image of the Year Award

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…