Starved. Stomped. Radiated. Poisoned. It's all in a day's work
for the common household cockroach. The abuse these creatures can
withstand is amazing.
But astronomers have found something even tougher—"polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons," says Achim Tappe of the Harvard Center for
Astrophysics. "They can survive a supernova."
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs for short) are ring-shaped
molecules made of carbon and hydrogen. They're about as well loved
as roaches: PAHs are a widespread organic pollutant, appearing in
auto exhaust, oil spills and cigarette smoke. The EPA has
classified seven PAH compounds as human carcinogens.
But even PAHs have their virtues: Ring-shaped molecules similar to
PAHs are found in DNA, and there's a growing consensus among
biologists that PAHs were present on Earth 4.5 billion years ago
when life began. By serving as building blocks for larger molecules
of life, PAHs may have played an essential role in the chemical
process of genesis.
That's why Tappe's recent discovery may be so important.
Heh, I thought supernova kills all, looks like I'm wrong. They are
as resilient as cockroaches. 
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/31aug_cockroaches.htm
Edit: Link fixed.
