As humanity dreams of becoming a starry civilization, the challenges of long-term space travel loom on the horizon.

One potential solution to this challenge is hibernation, which scientists say could help astronauts endure long trips between the stars.

NASA has been researching this idea for years, even studying the hibernation patterns of Arctic gophers.

However, recent research by a German team led by Gerald Kerth of the University of Greifswald focused on bats to better understand effective hibernation.

Interstellar dreams

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciencesexplores the role of erythrocytes, a specific type of red blood cell, in the hibernation process.

Hibernation is a crucial biological strategy for many mammals, allowing them to conserve energy and survive in the face of scarce resources.

If humanity wants to travel to neighboring stars, like Proxima Centauri, located 4.24 light years away, it must face the reality that even at near-light speed, such trips could take decades.

Thus, hibernation could become essential for future space missions, allowing astronauts to “sleep” during long periods of travel.

Kerth and his research team conducted extensive analyzes of the erythrocytes of the two hibernating bats (specifically, Nyctalus noctula) and non-hibernating bats (Rousettus aegypticus), as well as human blood samples.

Understanding how these blood cells adapt during hibernation is essential, because hibernating animals still need a functional blood supply to deliver oxygen to their tissues, even if their body temperature drops significantly.

Bat blood

The research team noted that blood cells change their shape in response to changes in pressure and blood vessel size.

This prompted them to investigate whether the extreme conditions during hibernation could also trigger changes in blood cells.

What they found was compelling: As the internal temperature of hibernating species fell from 99ºF to around 73ºF, the structure of erythrocytes in all species examined changed dramatically.

The cells became less elastic and more viscous, indicating a physiological adaptation to conserve energy in cold conditions.

Interestingly, the study revealed a significant distinction: while bat erythrocytes continued to transform when temperatures plunged as low as 50°F, human blood cells stagnated in their response to lower temperatures. bass.

This suggests that bats have unique adaptations that allow them to withstand extreme cold, a trait that could be exploited for potential human applications.

Human hibernation

Although applying hibernation techniques to space travel is a long-term goal, the immediate implications of this research could be revolutionary in medicine.

Scientists believe that understanding how to manipulate the mechanical properties of human blood cells could optimize circulation for pharmaceutical purposes.

Current surgical techniques, such as deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), already use controlled hypothermia to temporarily shut down brain function during complex surgical procedures.

Kerth stressed the importance of this research, indicating that although the prospect of hibernation for humans is not imminent, the results represent a significant step forward.

“There are benefits to placing humans at low temperatures during interstellar flight,” he said, emphasizing the long-term potential of the research.

Ultimately, this study illustrates the deep insights the animal kingdom can offer on survival strategies and physiological adaptations.

By learning about bats’ hibernation abilities, scientists could pave the way for humans to traverse the cosmos. In the future, hibernation could become a crucial aspect of interstellar exploration.