Axiom-4: Bengaluru 'water bears' serve their purpose in space

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla hit the ground running—or rather, floating—during his first week aboard the International Space Station (ISS). His tasks included studying the resilience of Bengaluru-bred tardigrades (aka "water bears") in zero gravity, kicking off muscle degradation research, and contributing to experiments on microalgae and cognitive function. These tiny, nearly indestructible creatures could hold clues for long-term space survival.