Physiology
Extreme Survival
Adaptations enabling organisms to survive conditions lethal to most life: extreme temperatures, desiccation, radiation, pressure, or resource deprivation.
Biological Context
Tardigrades survive vacuum, radiation, and temperatures from near absolute zero to 150°C. Extremophile bacteria thrive in boiling acid or Antarctic ice. These adaptations often involve suspended animation, protective compounds, or exceptional repair mechanisms.
Business Application
Business extreme survival means weathering existential threats: economic crashes, regulatory changes, technological disruption. Companies with 'tardigrade strategies' maintain optionality and can suspend operations to survive hostile conditions.