Every winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the earth is covered in silver, and at high latitudes, the temperature even drops to minus forty or fifty degrees Celsius, which is a huge test for the survival of living things.
On this basis, even if humans have cold clothing, they will still face the risk of frostbite in the outdoor environment for a long time, so it is difficult for people to imagine how animals living in high latitudes survive this long winter.
In fact, in addition to polar bears, Siberian tigers and elk, which have thick fur protection, small animals such as squirrels and sparrows have also attracted widespread attention.
One can't help but wonder, which animal on Earth is the most frost resistant? According to the research of biologists, Alaskan tree frogs have won the crown because they not only do not hibernate, but they can also survive smoothly at minus 30 ° C, which can be said to have created a miracle of life.
Compared with many of its kind, the Alaskan tree frog has less habit of hibernating, because in the general perception of people, frogs are one of the most afraid of cold animals, they have no thick fur and fat, and they can only hide in caves every winter to minimize their calorie consumption.
But Alaskan tree frogs are different, they have no burrows, they do not hibernate, whenever the temperature drops below zero, they will choose to freeze themselves, and the Alaskan tree frogs that become "ice sculptures" will slowly be covered with ice and snow. However, they do not die as a result, but will jump alive when the temperature rises in the coming year.
Therefore, scientists have conducted in-depth research on Alaskan tree frogs, and they were surprised to find that the glucose content in this animal is 5 times that of other frogs, which is the main reason why Alaskan tree frogs can withstand the cold.
During the long winter, the Alaskan tree frog may thaw due to different environmental factors, and then freeze again after the temperature drops again, and so on, and may go through several cycles. With the help of high glucose levels, they still maintain vital signs, and rarely freeze to death.
Previously, tardigrades were thought to be the best players to withstand the cold, but they also needed to dormant, which was fundamentally different from the Alaskan tree frog. The latter can survive in cold areas with its own advantages, which shows the infinite charm of nature.
As we continue to study, we may be able to find more powerful cold masters, but the ability of the Alaskan tree frog has also been eye-opening.