Could humans unlock a long-lost evolutionary superpower to survive deep space?
Hibernation is often relegated to science fiction, but researchers are investigating if humans possess the dormant biological hardware to enter a similar state. Mastering this metabolic slowdown could be the essential key to surviving the radiation and resource demands of a journey to Mars.
While humans do not naturally hibernate, scientists believe we may retain the genetic machinery for reduced-energy states. Sandy Martin of the University of Colorado suggests that because hibernating species are widely distributed across the mammalian tree, our common ancestor was likely a hibernator. This implies that humans might still possess the underlying circuitry to enter a state of 'torpor'—a reversible dormancy characterized by extreme lethargy and lowered body temperature.
Recent experiments at the University of Pittsburgh’s Applied Physiology Lab have demonstrated how closely we can mimic this state. Using the sedative dexmedetomidine, a team led by physician Clifton Callaway successfully induced a 'twilight kind of sleep' in healthy volunteers. In one instance, eighteen hours after the sedative suppressed the subject's shivering response, their internal temperature dropped from 98.6°F to 95°F. This process triggered a 20 percent plunge in metabolism, significantly reducing the subject's need for oxygen, food, and carbon dioxide removal.
The implications for space exploration are profound. As NASA prepares for potential Mars missions as early as the 2030s, the European Space Agency and NASA are supporting research into metabolic suppression. A 'bearlike' state could minimize the weight of essential cargo, such as food and oxygen, and potentially mitigate the dangers of space radiation, which can be 200 times greater than on Earth. Beyond the stars, unlocking these molecular mechanisms could offer terrestrial medical breakthroughs, such as extending the window for treating strokes, heart attacks, and cardiac arrest.
Source: Could Humans Hibernate?
