Human Hibernation: From Fiction to Fact
Hibernation has always been a classic sci-fi plot device for long distance space travel. Interplanetary travel is problematic. Travel time is measured in months or years, ships need to carry enough food for their passengers, and the passengers need keep themselves entertained. All of these problems could be solved if the travelers could be placed into hibernation.
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have successfully placed mice into a state of hibernation and revived them with no ill effects. The mice were placed in a chamber filled with 80 parts per million of hydrogen sulfide. This compound is naturally produced in animals and helps regulate body temperature and metabolic activity. After a few minutes, the mice’s heartbeat and temperature were drastically reduced.
Medical researchers see this kind of hibernation as a way to give them more time and options to treat patients. They predict that human trials may begin within five years.
I wonder if a method like this could be used keep people in hibernation for extended periods of time. All people have bacteria within them. If a person is placed in hibernation for an extended period of time, how can their body fight off harmful organisms? Sterilization isn’t an option, because we live as symbionts with many of these bacteria. For example, there are bacteria within our intestines that help produce vitamins for us. It’ll be interesting to see this technology turns out in ten years.