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In this episode of Discover Daily, we look at how scientists are getting closer to achieving human hibernation, with Harvard Medical School researchers identifying specific neurons in the hypothalamus that control torpor states in mice. This breakthrough discovery provides the first clear entry point for understanding how the brain initiates and maintains states of decreased physiological activity, bringing us one step closer to controlled human hibernation.

During hibernation, animals undergo remarkable physiological changes, with heart rates dropping dramatically and body temperatures falling to near-freezing levels. Arctic ground squirrels can survive at temperatures as low as -2.9°C, while black bears demonstrate an impressive ability to suppress their metabolism to 25% of normal rates while maintaining relatively high body temperatures. These insights are driving research into potential applications for human medicine, particularly in treating neurodegenerative diseases, as hibernating animals can naturally clear harmful tau protein tangles from their brains - the same proteins that accumulate in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients.

NASA and other space agencies are already planning to test hibernation technology on animals aboard the International Space Station. However, significant challenges remain, including the human body's lack of natural hibernation triggers and protective mechanisms, risks of blood clots, and potential brain damage during extended periods of reduced activity.

From Perplexity's Discover Feed:

https://www.perplexity.ai/page/real-life-human-hibernation-AXj2mn0OReugnTTXm806DQ

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