Astronauts could be able to survive long space missions by being artificially put into hibernation like black bears, scientists have claimed.
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| NASA image |
Nick Collins
Telegraph
Alaskan black bears hibernate for up to seven months a year, during which time they do not eat or drink, before waking up in virtually the same physical state they fell asleep in.
By reducing their heart rate to only 14 beats per minute and slowing their metabolism by three quarters, the animals are able to remain healthy through their long period of inactivity.
Now experts hope to develop methods of putting humans into a similar state, which could help astronauts survive long missions and lead to new ways of treating severely ill patients, The Guardian reported.
While many studies have examined hibernation in mice and hedgehogs, little research has been done into the same condition in larger mammals such as bears.
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