ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Braarudosphaera bigelowii

Braarudosphaera bigelowii is a tiny little creature that lives in the ocean. You might think it looks like a little ball with spikes sticking out of it! These creatures are so small that you could fit hundreds of them on the end of a piece of string!

Now, these little creatures are very important because they are part of a really big group of tiny creatures called plankton. Plankton are like little plants or animals that float around in the water and are eaten by bigger creatures like fish and whales. Braarudosphaera bigelowii is important because it's a special type of plankton that has a hard shell around it, kind of like a suit of armor. This shell helps to protect it from getting eaten by some of those bigger creatures.

Scientists have been studying Braarudosphaera bigelowii for a long time because they're trying to figure out how it's affected by changes in the environment. For example, if the ocean gets too warm, it might be harder for Braarudosphaera bigelowii to survive. This is important because if Braarudosphaera bigelowii starts to disappear, then the bigger creatures that eat it might have trouble finding food and could get sick or die.

So, in summary, Braarudosphaera bigelowii is a small creature that lives in the ocean and is part of a group of tiny creatures called plankton. It has a hard shell that helps protect it from getting eaten and is important because it's food for bigger creatures like fish and whales. Scientists study Braarudosphaera bigelowii to understand how it's affected by changes in the environment and to make sure that the ocean stays healthy for all the creatures that live there.