Could Squirrels Be the Key to Long Distance Spaceflight?

Space is hard on the human body, but a certain ground squirrel might have the guts to show us how to last longer in space.

Hosted By: Reid Reimers
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[jamiee]

I so wanted this to be a video about a squirrel running inside a wire wheel to power an interstellar spaceship.

[mikkosaarinen]

The best thing about this episode is that it reminded me that the updated official finnish name for ground squirrels is tikutaku which basically translates to chipdale 😄

[loganl]

Exciting! This could help more people than just astronauts, too! Disabled people, people in comas or on bedrest, and such come to mind

[rickseiden]

I'd like to send the squirrels in my attic into space! Those little buggers didn't hibernate this winter, are very active, don't really care about the ultrasonic squirrel repeller or strobe light I have up there, and somehow manage to get the peanut butter out of the trap, without getting caught in it while also letting it close.

[massimookissed]

I would imagine one thing we've learned from studying bears, is that bears don't like being studied.

[estudiordl]

Well, the second reason squirrels are better to research than bears... You don't want to wake a bear in the middle of the winter to asks him... 😜

[crowguy]

Not enough data. So we really need to fly a bear to the ISS now.

[bankerdave]

I volunteer the squirrels in my backyard for the mission!

[kennethbaxter]

It could also help those with muscular dystrophy and other muscle wasting diseases

[Jimera]

I haven't watched the video yet but I can only assume this means they've developing a space engine that involves squirrels rapidly throwing acorns out of the back of the spacecraft.

[briankober]

out of curiosity, could that mouse gene experiment that stimulated muscle growth be used to combat ms? had that thought, like wouldnt that be a useful medical advance? Just an idea...

[NoTimeLeft_]

What if planet earth is the intergalactic equivalent of the training level for a video game?
There are so many things on this planet we can learn from to further our ability to explore the cosmos.
Sometime it really feels like the more we learn from stuff around us the better off we are.

[BakedPhoria]

"Floating around in space sounds amazing"
*Gravity intensifies*

[Seadalgo]

A few years ago I visited Wisconsin. The first time I saw a 13 line ground squirrel, I thought it was a chipmunk. It wasn't until later (and by later I mean now) that I realized it was a ground squirrel

[Sekusamu]

I already knew about this six weeks ago, because I listen to Quirks and Quarks. Canadian radio rocks!

[Secret_Takodachi]

I love the idea of an R&D meeting where engineers are trying to brainstorm solutions to long term space flight challenges and the whole room is silently contemplating potential options and then one of 'em slaps the table and confidently states:
"I've got it!.... Squirrels."
Team: "Squirrels?"
1 person: "Yup, Squirrels."
Team: "Squirrels. Really?
1 person: "Yes really, do the math it all adds up!"

[MaryAnnNytowl]

This is a really positive idea!

Edit:
Second link in their list is the squirrel study.

[militantpacifist]

I just recently passed by a dead squirrel while walking to my home. RIP squirrel.

[jonnyblade]

Those mice must have been so confused by the low gravity.

[rainsticklandguitartalk]

Seems like this could be very helpful to anyone on dialysis, too. If urea can be converted to nitrogen, rather than overloading kidneys, it would vastly increase the times in between sessions. If we ever get into a situation where there's a major power loss, which is definitely a big issue in the US with your decaying power grid, patients will have a lot less to worry about when it comes to clearing out their kidneys. Far too many people rely on the power grid just to stay alive, so it's really too bad the US government is comprised of bought politicians.