Scientists Discuss How to Hibernate for Space Travel

We've all seen sci-fi movies where astronauts go into deep sleep for long space journeys, but how close are we to making that a reality? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly team up with Ryan Sprenger, Senior Research Scientist at Fauna Bio, to explore a question straight out of science fiction: can humans hibernate in space like animals do on Earth?

Ryan breaks down the science of hibernation and torpor, explaining how animals like bears and ground squirrels lower their metabolic rates to survive harsh conditions.

Learn how with the help of the NAIC grant, Ryan and Fauna Bio team Ashley Hermans, Tobias Niederwieser, Mark Boettger, and Adam Kohler, are creating the Space Torpor for Advanced Space Habitats (STASH) program, which aims to take steps towards making human hibernation a possibility for long-term space travel. Could unlocking the secrets of these animals help humans avoid muscle atrophy, radiation damage, and resource scarcity in space?

Discover the metabolic superpowers of hibernating animals. Could hibernating ground squirrels be an answer to diabetes and obesity? We also learn how hibernating animals resist muscle wasting and radiation exposure, abilities that could be crucial for space travel. How many calories does an animal in torpor use? Plus, what happens to your body’s waste products if you don’t go to the bathroom for six months?

We tackle the practical questions: what would humans need to survive in hibernation? How would we wake up? How dangerous is waking up? Can gene therapy jump-start our journey into deep space slumber? Will we be using this on the eventual trip to Mars? Find out what’s possible, what’s still science fiction, and whether space travel might one day look like a long nap!

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Hibernating in Space
02:20 - What is Torpor?
04:20 - Why Hibernate?
10:43 - Looking at Extreme Physiology
15:32 - Hibernating From Radiation
19:20 - Getting Humans to Hibernate to Mars
21:40 - Shutting Down the Body (And Staying Alive)
26:16 - How to Hibernate & How to Wake Up
34:18 - Combatting Muscle Atrophy
36:19 - What The Hibernation Pods Would Look Like
40:38 - Sending Hibernators to Space
42:48 - Closing Thoughts

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[StarTalk]

If we could induce hibernation in humans for long space journeys, what do you think would be the biggest challenge: preventing muscle atrophy, managing waste, or safely waking up after months of torpor?

[TheGiggleMasterP]

Can i volunteer to increase my body weight by 100% and then take a 5 month nap?

[gdroege]

Hummingbirds are a good example of using torpor on a daily basis yet they can fly across the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight. They have an extreme physiology in such a tiny body.

[crazypiiano]

Ryan is so good at explaining things, being super friendly and just an overall great guest!! Super interesting topic as well! Thank you for this episode!

[Daruk]

Looks like Neil was hibernating throughout the conversation 😂

[ChessIsBestWithACupOfScience]

*We love Neil! We love Chuck! We love Gary! We love star talk!!!*

*-The Universe. ❤️‍🔥💯*

[craigtevis]

Can't we just train the bears to go into space for us? 😊

[astrocoastalprocessor]

grumpy bears in space sounds like a great children's book title to go along with this conversation

[Skanking-Corpse]

Here's a question that I don't think was asked what effect does hibernation have on aging? Is aging exactly the same or is it slowed when in hibernation?

[adrianonhilton]

Australian Plants bounce back from fires amazingly fast as soon as there is a period of rain. Nearly as fast as Deciduous trees sprout in spring. Many actually need fire to open seed pods and the seeds are spread floating in the updrafts from the fire. I believe I read once that some native grass even emit a flammable gas during fires so the air above them burns, leaving an inch un-burnt above the ground.

[shadowskill]

It seems like unlocking the ability to burn fat instead of muscle would be enough to make your company filthy rich.

[bhaz]

Neil and Chuck are the perfect combination for this show.

[jameslaporta]

10-15 years for some level of human torpor is insane. Wow

[naumankhawaja]

Dr. Tyson feeling incredibly sleepy throughout! Let him hibernate!

[Mitchel]

I'm already increased my body weight by 100%, so im halfway there. I'll volunteer for a 5 month sleep.

[bemquerer]

The change of Chuck's knowledge and scientific vision is one of the most inspiring changes I've seen. As a science nerd, I hope this has inspired many others to dive deeper into the understanding of everything. From forced jokes, sometimes at the wrong time, to funny comments and even observations that left NGT speechless. Yeah, Science!

[vulcanfeline]

sorry, you are just not allowed to forget david attenborough's name

[RoiHolden]

Loved this guest. Bring him back some day.

[McFamily]

Honestly I can't stop thinking about the medical benefits, if we can keep patients on transplant lists in torpor or surgery where the heart beats and moves blood slowly, that could be so huge for medicine!

[ElizabethBryant-du]

Really fascinating and yet a very practical problem with space travel. Please return to Sprenger every year or so for an update,