Human Hibernation:

Science, Speculation, and the Search for Deep Sleep

Images often come to mind when we hear the word ‘hibernation’. They include bears nestled in caves, groundhogs burrowed deep underground, or bats hanging upside down in dark caverns for extended rest periods. But what about humans? Can we, too, enter a state of deep suspended animation similar to these creatures? Human Hibernation has been a topic of interest for science fiction writers and researchers for many years.

Definition of Hibernation

Hibernation can be scientifically defined as a state of prolonged torpor, or inactivity, that some animals enter to conserve energy when environmental conditions are less than ideal, usually during colder months when food is scarce. During this period, metabolic processes are significantly reduced. This includes a drop in heart rate, body temperature, and oxygen consumption, enabling the animal to survive without eating for extended.

Reasons for Animal Hibernation

• Energy Conservation: Hibernating animals significantly reduce their metabolic rate. This helps them conserve energy during periods when food is hard to come by.
• Protection from Predators: Some animals hibernate to hide from predators during vulnerable periods.
• Surviving Harsh Conditions: Hibernation also aids in survival during extreme weather conditions that might be too cold or dry.

Human Hibernation: Fact or Fiction?

While humans do not naturally hibernate in the same way many animals do, the concept has been explored for several reasons:

• Space Travel: One of the primary challenges of interstellar travel is the duration it would take to travel between stars. If humans could hibernate, we could feasibly embark on long-duration space voyages without the need for vast amounts of food or psychological concerns related to prolonged spaceflight.
• Medical Applications: Hibernation could also have significant medical implications. If doctors could induce a state of hibernation, it might provide more time for patients waiting for transplants or give the body time to heal after severe trauma without the complications that come with long-term bed rest.
• Survival in Extreme Conditions: Like other animals, if humans could hibernate, we could potentially survive in harsh or extreme environments, whether on Earth or other planets, for extended periods.

Challenges and Current Research

Inducing an actual hibernation state in humans presents a myriad of challenges. Our metabolic processes, body temperature regulations, and energy needs differ considerably from actual hibernating animals.

However, scientists study organisms with hibernating abilities to understand the underlying mechanisms. There is hope that these insights could someday be applied to humans. Research on specific proteins and genes associated with hibernation might pave the way for therapeutic applications. Additionally, studies on animals like the Arctic ground squirrel, which can lower its metabolism without reducing its body temperature, offer intriguing possibilities.

The closest humans have come to hibernation is medical operations aimed at lowering the chances of getting heart attacks and strokes using the therapeutic hypothermic technique that helps lower one’s temperature by a few degrees, according to Fraser Cain (2017). Medics use ice packs, coolers, and cooled saline solution; with the temperature lowered, a person’s metabolism decreases, and they go into a torpor. Fraser Cain (2017) affirms that the results have been promising as people have been kept in this condition for up to 14 days. The gravity of this matter extends to geological evidence, and as noted by The Guardian’s Robin McKie (2020), results from bones found in some of the most famous fossil sites suggest that our predecessors may have hibernated to survive the winters.

Final Thoughts

While human Hibernation remains in the realm of speculation and science fiction, the potential benefits of such a capability are vast. From deep-space travel to groundbreaking medical treatments, the implications are profound. As science progresses and our understanding of hibernation deepens, the boundary between fiction and reality may blur. In the meantime, we can dream of a future where humans might rest as deeply as the bears in winter.

References

Young People’s Trust for the Environment. (c2021). Hibernation. Retrieved from https://ypte.org.uk/factsheets/hibernation/what-is-hibernation

Jo Pryce. (c2021). Discover Wildlife: What is Hibernation? Retrieved from https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/what-is-hibernation/

Robin McKie. (2020). The Guardian: Early humans may have survived the harsh winters by hibernating. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/20/early-humans-may-have-survived-the-harsh-winters-by-hibernating

Fraser Cain. (2017). Universe Today: Is human Hibernation possible? Going to sleep for long-duration spaceflight. Retrieved from https://phys.org/news/2017-06-human-hibernation-duration-spaceflight.html

BMJ. (2020). NCBI: Human Hibernation. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1117993/