If you’re used to thinking outside of the box, you may have wondered: “can humans hibernate?” Beyond space flight, the possibility of human hibernation is a fascinating and largely untapped subject of study. Hibernation has been demonstrated in various animals but never in humans. The notion of people hibernating has been explored in fiction for ages, but it is only recently that the science underlying it has come to be recognised.
One question has remained unanswered throughout human space exploration: Can humans go to long term sleep and travel far in space? And if not, why can’t humans hibernate?
So, can humans hibernate? How hibernation works is like so: hibernation is a state of inactivity and reduced metabolism that animals adapt to endure times of food scarcity or adverse weather. Hibernation causes an animal’s body temperature and heart rate to decline, and it becomes less receptive to outside stimuli.
While hibernation has been recorded in various creatures, from bats to bears, the mechanics behind this process are unknown. There have been accounts of inadvertent or induced hibernation in humans, although these occurrences are rare and poorly understood.
For ages, people have debated the idea of space flight. With the introduction of modern technology, space travel has become a reality for many people. Yet, the possibility of human hibernation beyond space travel is still being debated. Some scientists believe that human hibernation might be utilised to transport people to other planets or possibly other galaxies.
Others argue that the hazards connected for humans with how hibernation works are too severe and that the technology is not yet mature enough to make it safe.
Some people feel that human hibernation might be employed for space travel for various reasons. One explanation is that it would enable astronauts to go considerably further than they could when awake. Another rationale is that it would lower the amount of food and water astronauts need to carry on their voyage.
Lastly, some people feel that human hibernation might assist astronauts to avoid the negative consequences of radiation exposure.
So, why can’t humans hibernate, anyway? Unlike other hibernating creatures, we lack a natural system for controlling our body temperature. What’s more, humans cannot survive for long periods without food and water.
Further, our bodies are not designed for hibernation; we lack the additional fat stores that animals require to live during inactivity.
Human hibernation projects have been discussed for millennia, with allusions extending back to Greek mythology. Hibernation is derived from the Latin word for winter – hibernatus. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that scientists began to investigate the phenomena in animals, and it wasn’t until the mid-twentieth century that researchers began to look into the possibility of human hibernation.
True hibernation and Torpor are the two basic forms of hibernation. Real hibernation is a profound sleep condition marked by decreased body temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate. This hibernation is frequently observed in cold-climate animals such as bears and ground squirrels.
On the other hand, Torpor is a state of diminished activity and metabolism defined by a decrease in body temperature but not by a decrease in heart rate or breathing rate. Warm-climate species, such as bats and hummingbirds, exhibit this sort of hibernation.
Researchers think that humans may be able to enter a condition of torpor. The human hibernation project would include decreasing the body’s core temperature to 32-34 degrees Celsius by means such as exposure to cold air or immersion in cold water.
As the body’s temperature is reduced, the metabolism slows, and the body enters a state of rest. The main impediment to this is that humans lack the same hair or fat layers that animals have to help insulate them.
Hibernation has been proposed to reduce the danger of human health issues during long-term missions in space. Yet, there are certain hazards involved with this strategy.
For starters, it is unknown how well the human body might withstand prolonged periods of hibernation. Hibernation may be related to an increased risk of bone loss and muscular atrophy, according to some studies. Also, hibernation may cause changes in blood pressure and pulse rate, which might be problematic for astronauts.
Another source of worry is that hibernation may not effectively reduce the risk of human health problems during space flight. Animal studies have revealed that, while hibernation can help animals live in harsh conditions, it does not necessarily protect them from all of the hazards involved with space flight.
Animals that have been put into hibernation, for example, have been discovered to have radiation exposure and other health issues.
Lastly, consider what would happen if an astronaut awoke from hibernation prematurely. This may be extremely dangerous since the astronaut would be bewildered and confused. They may also suffer from dehydration and other medical issues.
Ultimately, numerous unknowns exist about the possible dangers of hibernation in space flight. Further study is required to determine how well the human body might withstand
Apart from space flight, there are other possible applications for human hibernation. Hibernation has the potential to be utilised to treat a variety of medical diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It might also help to slow down the ageing process.
Human hibernation projects might potentially be employed for long-term organ and tissue storage. This would allow organs and tissues to be maintained for future generations to be transplanted.
Therefore, in answer to the question ‘can humans hibernate?’, there is undeniable potential for human hibernation. It may seem radical, but hibernation could someday be a part of our daily lives. We are yet just scratching the surface of what is conceivable.