Astronauts could hibernate like bears

And what about the muscles? Won't the muscles be degraded? in the space it's much greater risk than it is on Earth due to the fact that there is no gravity up there, That's what I was wondering as well. Technically to get an accurate idea, wouldn't they have to study bears hibernating in space?

Like a bear really? Tappen and all? 'Astronauts could hibernate' would be a better title.

so they gotta eat a lotta grass to plug up their poop hole like bears do.

Oh the witty banter. What has happened to intelligent discourse? If you don't like titles, write the articles yourselves and we'll judge you. I see at least one complaint about titles on almost every article now.

Well, if you don't eat that is less food to bring with you. If your metabolism slows by 3/4 that would reduce the demand on your C02 scrubbers. Even if it did not extand lifespan, it would make logistics easier.

And yet all this hibernation doesn't seem to extend the lifespan of the black bear, something I've always thought odd if we were honestly considering such a technique for extended space trips like this. Black bears live somewhere between 18 and 30 years, if I'm not mistaken. So if we did somehow find a way to induce human hibernation would we actually live longer? I'd say... probably not. So the round trip distance for extended space travel would probably still rely on propulsion technologies moreso than something like this. Or am I looking at it all wrong? if you are then I am also....similar... [More]

Boonyzarc- I don't believe we've ever had the luxury of testing a non-hibernating bear to see if they do live shorter lives than those that hibernate. I may be wrong, don't they all hibernate? Perhaps not in climate controlled captivity. If that's the case, then never mind my unknowledgeable dribble.

Like in James Cameron's Avatar. Just, we need to learn how the heck they managed to pull off a 25 year or so journey without anyone becoming seriously ill.

if you are then I am also....similar lines of thinking here Boon, I cant understand what advantage this would give astronauts? different if they could hibernate for 150 years or something a little more extreme...but I am truely lost as to what advanatge this would give our astronauts??? Less payload for one, I would imagine. With space travel, that's always a bonus. Plus I would rather sail the sea for twenty years straight than spend that long in a tiny capsule (or whatever size ship) with nothing to do but play solitary or minesweeper. I would go insane after about 6 months!

Less payload for one, I would imagine. With space travel, that's always a bonus. Plus I would rather sail the sea for twenty years straight than spend that long in a tiny capsule (or whatever size ship) with nothing to do but play solitary or minesweeper. I would go insane after about 6 months! Hi S2F, not sure if the payload would make that big a difference but I could easily be mistaken as I lack any knowledge in that department. With regards to the second point, very valid, never actually thought of that......at least you would come back minesweeper champ!!!!