Aiming at returning to the Moon and exploring Mars, scientists are exploring possibilities such as human hibernation during long space voyages . Although this possibility still seems distant, Angelique Van Ombergen of the European Space Agency (ESA) suggests that it could be viable in the long term.
Currently, researchers such as Matteo Cerri, a neurophysiologist at the University of Bologna in Italy, have managed to induce hibernation-like states in animals that cannot naturally hibernate, such as rats. Although this state is commonly referred to as hibernation, the more appropriate technical term would be torpor , characterized by a significant reduction in metabolism to conserve energy during periods of scarcity.
Cerri clarifies that torpor in animals can vary in duration, from a few hours to months, with periods of brief activity every 24 hours. This process has proven to be beneficial in animal studies, protecting them from various risks similar to those that humans would face in space, making its study and understanding essential.
Human hibernation: the alternative for space travel
Given the hostility of space to human life, ESA is evaluating various strategies to facilitate long-duration space travel. According to Van Ombergen, hibernation could become a practical option within two or three decades for extended missions. This would not only offer protection against problems such as muscle atrophy and bone loss, which do not affect hibernating animals, but would also mitigate the psychological effects of loneliness and confinement.
The benefits of inducing a state of torpor in humans go beyond physical and mental health. From a logistical and economic perspective, it would significantly reduce the need for resources such as water and food, reducing both the weight needed for supplies and the associated costs. Cerri mentions that the study of torque could allow selective applications, such as keeping muscles active or protecting against radiation without the need to induce torque throughout the body.
Understanding how to start and stop this state is crucial. Cerri and his team have discovered that certain molecules can “shut down” groups of neurons to induce torpor, while combining drugs with hypothermia shows potential to reduce tissue metabolism. This knowledge is relevant to space travel and could have medical applications on Earth, such as prolonging the lives of patients awaiting transplants or slowing the growth of tumors.
Torpor research opens up new possibilities for space travel, but could also provide valuable insights for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Studying how animals return to normal after periods of torpor could reveal mechanisms to restore brain function, which would be a significant advance in the treatment of these conditions.
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Source: forbes.com.mx
Photo: shutterstock
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