hibernation

Hibernation is a remarkable survival mechanism employed by many mammals to endure periods of extreme environmental stress. While a variety of species hibernate, the process in bears stands out as uniquely adapted to their physiology and ecological niche. Unlike smaller mammals that enter a state of “true hibernation,” characterized by dramatic drops in body temperature…

Understanding hibernation could revolutionize medical fields such as trauma care and organ transplantation. The ability to induce hibernation-like states in humans may extend the viability of organs for transplantation and improve outcomes for critically ill patients (Drew et al., 2007). Hibernation research has implications for long-term space travel. Mimicking hibernation in astronauts could reduce resource…