Tardigrades can endure some of the most extreme conditions, including the vacuum of space and solar radiation, and can go without food or water for more than 10

Tardigrades can endure some of the most extreme conditions, including the vacuum of space and solar radiation, and can go without food or water for more than 10 years: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade Not the same as plankton, but still quite interesting, I think!