An astronaut resting on a large sheet of fabric
Artificially produced hibernation could protect astronauts from lethal doses of cosmic radiation while on long-duration missions, according to a new report.
That would include crewed missions to Mars, which are yet to be scheduled but are expected to occur in the late 2030s or 2040s.
Cosmic radiation is one of the most dangerous aspects of space travel and arguably the biggest barrier long-terms space exploration.
Published this week in Scientific Reports, the research team looked at artificially putting astronauts into “torpor,” the state that hibernating animals enter in winter. During such a state living organisms are known to reduce life-supporting functions and undergo changes at a molecular level:
- Body temperature is lowered.
- Metabolism is reduced.
- Heart rate slows.
- Oxygen intake is reduced.
- Gene activity and protein biosynthesis slow down.
The study in rats—a non-hibernating animal, like humans—showed that artificially produced hibernation may increase resistance to radiation. Scientists already accept that naturally hibernating animals acquire a resistance to radiation.
Getting astronauts safely to Mars—a journey of over six months—could mean putting them into … [+]
It’s important because ill effects from cosmic radiation in space is very difficult to protect astronauts against. The biggest worry is galactic cosmic radiation (GCR), high-energy charged particles, including densely ionizing heavy ions that are produced in distant galaxies. They’re impossible to stop penetrating a spacecraft and the bodies of astronauts.
GCR means that astronauts are exposed to over 200 times the safe radiation background level on Earth over a very long period. However, the study revealed that synthetic hibernation reduces the tissue damage from radiation.
“Our results indicate that synthetic torpor is a promising tool to enhance radioprotection in living organism during long-term space missions,” said Professor Marco Durante, Head of the GSI Biophysics Division. “It could thus be an effective strategy to protect humans as they explore the solar system.”
The results also suggested that the two key factors in preventing cell damage from radiation are lower oxygen concentration in the tissues and reduced metabolism. More work is required on the effect of synthetic torpor in organs, say the scientists, adding that it’s currently not possible to hibernate a human in a safe and controlled way.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
