Space-bound hibernation potentially enhanced with novel bat findings

A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has shed light on a potential solution to the unique health challenges faced by astronauts during a 21-month trip to Mars – hibernation.

The study, led by Gerald Kerth, a zoologist at the University of Greifswald in Germany, focused on the red blood cells of Egyptian fruit bats and noctule bats, species known for their ability to hibernate during winter and survive temperatures as low as 19 degrees Fahrenheit.

Kerth and his team found major differences in how these bat red blood cells and human red blood cells behave when it's cold. As the temperature dropped, bat red blood cells became thicker and stiffer relative to their stiffness, allowing the animal's body to optimize oxygen and survive cold weather.

This discovery could have significant implications for whether humans could enter a torpor state for prolonged periods, a state where mammals drop their body temperature and slow down their metabolism and brain activity to save energy, similar to hibernation.

One proposed benefit of hibernation for astronauts is its potential to help maintain their health during the long journey to Mars. The lower metabolic rate during hibernation could reduce the need for food and oxygen, making the mission more sustainable.

Mikkael A. Sekeres, a hematologist, suggests that the study could potentially lead to a better outcome for astronauts than the woebegone astronauts in the Alien movie series. However, many important questions remain unanswered about human hibernation, such as how to induce it and if a type of drug could instruct human cells to become thicker in proportion to their stiffness.

The study compared human and bat red blood cells using specialized computer software. It was also found that the tougher bat cells may boost oxygen uptake and distribution throughout the body at low temperatures. If scientists could change the human red blood cell membranes to mimic bats, it could bring us closer to human hibernation.

The Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS) in Magdeburg is conducting basic research on how the human brain unconsciously processes and stores temporal and spatial patterns, which could be relevant to hibernation. However, there are currently no search results specifically linking individual researchers working on human hibernation to NASA collaborations.

Traveling to Mars presents unique challenges, including radiation exposure, body and muscle wastage, constant confinement, and the need for a large number of shuttles to carry food and fuel. The potential benefits of hibernation could help address some of these challenges, making the journey to Mars more feasible for future astronauts.

NASA plans to send astronauts to Mars by the 2030s. With continued research and collaboration between scientists and space agencies, the dream of exploring Mars could become a reality, thanks in part to the humble bat and its remarkable red blood cells.