Hibernation for future astronauts

[bobw]

I liked reading the article on today's Space.com fromt page about hibernation. I think we have a long way to go but someday it will probably happen. One thing I noticed, though was this sentence.<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>"All of them belong to a hypermetabolic stasis, where you lower your metabolism, your energy consumption and your energy needs," Biggiogera told SPACE.com. "It's an adaptive mechanism."<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />I did some googling and found the term "hypermetabolic stasis" on another ESA website, so it's not like Tariq Malik misunderstood what Biggiogera said. Why does he call it hypermetabolic when it is lowering the metabolic rate? Usually, in science, "hyper" means more and "hypo" means less. Is this a common usage of the term "hyper"? I suppose it could mean "unusual" in this context. Just wondering. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[paleo]

Did you actually learn anything new from the article. I read it and was surprised that they would put it on the site. All fluff with no substance.<br /><br /> The topic is interesting but I didn't get the point of an article that said nothing and couched itself in an aura of scientific gobblely ****.

 

[thalion]

I think it will be difficult to enable--especially since I hadn't considered the mass question brought up by the article--but as I've mentioned before, it could be a godsend for travel to the outer solar system. However, I'd worry a lot about the kind physiological degeneration that could occur during a prolonged sleep-like state. In any event, if possible, hibernation is decades away.<br /><br />I also had no idea that NASA even had any conceptual plans for a Jupiter mission. I can't imagine a more exciting mission (okay, maybe Titan...), even with Mars. Then again, I was raised with a dog-eared copy of <i>2010: Odyssey Two</i>. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[bobw]

Oops, this was a reply to Paleo.<br /><br />Well, yes, I guess so. <br /><br />First, I was surprised that DADLE, by reducing the proliferation and the transcription of genetic material, would have the side effect of actually putting a person to sleep. Maybe it doesn't; maybe they'll have to use another drug for that. It seems to me that inhibiting the proliferation and transcription of genetic material may prevent telomere shortening, or inhibit cellular repair, but putting one to sleep? Maybe if it stops acetylcholine synthesis or something it could inhibit neural stimulation. It is something to look up, anyway, and I enjoy that.<br /><br />Also, I never heard of the HOPE mission before. "A 2002 conceptual study by NASA's Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts (RASC) group, the HOPE Callisto mission proposes sending six humans on a 5-year flight to Callisto, where they would spend 30 days on the Jupiter moon's surface, by the year 2045 or later." How do I get a job thinking up stuff like that?! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />For me, the article raised more questions than it provided answers but I enjoyed reading it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

Speculation may lead to science,all big thoughts like moon landing was mere speculation in the fifties.

 

[worthj1970]

Just to pop in a question. Do people in long-term comas (which I assume to essentially be a form of hibernation, but that might be false) 'age' along the same lines as people who are not in a coma? Also, is there any evidence that animals that *do* hibernate actually stop aging in any way, at least noticably? And along the lines of people in comas, wouldn't there be a major problem with the body essentially becoming useless? Or is this something that a weightless environment would counter?