Welcome to Discover Daily by Perplexity, an AI-generated show on tech, science and culture. I'm Alex. Today we're exploring how scientists are getting closer to achieving what was once purely science fiction, human hibernation. Scientists at Harvard Medical School have identified specific neurons in the hypothalamus that control hibernation-like states in mice.
This discovery provides the first clear entry point for understanding how the brain initiates and maintains torpus states, a state of decreased physiological activity marked by reduced body temperature and metabolic rate.
The Harvard team's ability to selectively activate these neurons and maintain torpor for extended periods represents a crucial step toward developing controlled hibernation techniques. Through testing 226 different regions of the hypothalamus across 54 animals and analyzing nearly 50,000 individual cells, they've created a detailed map of the neural circuits involved in this complex biological process.
When animals hibernate, their bodies undergo remarkable changes. Their heart rates plummet. Chipmunks go from 350 to 10 beats per minute. Their breathing slows dramatically and body temperature can drop to near freezing levels.
Arctic ground squirrels demonstrate particularly impressive adaptations, actively thermoregulating when soil temperatures drop below freezing to maintain body temperatures as low as -2.9 degrees Celsius while preventing tissue damage. The process isn't simply about getting cold.
Black bears demonstrate a fascinating ability to suppress their metabolism to 25% of normal rates while maintaining relatively high body temperatures between. This metabolic suppression can persist even after hibernation ends, with bears maintaining reduced metabolic rates for up to three weeks after emerging from their dens.
Medical researchers are particularly interested in hibernation's neuroprotective properties. During torpor, animals can clear harmful protein tangles from their brains, some of the same proteins that accumulate in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients.
Even more remarkable, scientists have discovered that the cold shock response activates a crucial protein called RBM3, which helps preserve neurons and prevents synapse elimination in the hippocampus. When researchers increased RBM3 levels through gene therapy, they observed significant protection against neurodegeneration.
Some hospitals are already using modified cooling techniques to keep patients in torpor-like states for up to 14 days. This approach helps protect tissues after stroke and during cardiac surgery. And here's something unexpected: hibernation actually creates a sleep-deprived state.
Animals need significant deep sleep when emerging from torpor, with their brains showing complete recovery of neural microstructure and increased spine density after hibernation, indicating enhanced synaptic communication potential. The research on hibernation is expanding rapidly.
The University of Alaska has launched a nearly $12 million research program to study the effect on metabolism and investigate arctic ground squirrels. A Yale University lab is focusing on understanding the molecular basis of hibernation, while the Arctic University of Norway research lab is studying the brain's role during torpor arousal. But several challenges remain before human hibernation becomes reality.
our bodies lack natural hibernation triggers and protective mechanisms. Unlike bears, which can regulate blood platelet production during hibernation, humans are susceptible to developing dangerous blood clots even after brief periods of immobility. The suppressed immune function during hibernation poses another significant risk, with research showing up to 90% reduction in circulating white blood cells during torpor states.
As research advances on multiple fronts, from Harvard's discovery of torpor-controlling neurons to NASA's planned microgravity experiments, we're moving closer to practical applications of human hibernation in both space exploration and medicine. These converging studies bring us nearer to achieving controlled human torpor states that could transform long-duration spaceflight and revolutionize treatments for neurological conditions.
That's it for today. Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to subscribe on your favorite platform. For more info on anything we covered today, check out the links in our episode description. And don't forget, you can now access Perplexity's AI-powered knowledge base on the go with the mobile app, available for both Android and iOS. We also just released the Perplexity desktop app for macOS.
In other Perplexity news, we're thrilled to share that Perplexity just launched an exciting new AI-powered shopping experience. The platform now offers one-click checkout with Buy with Pro, free shipping for Pro users, and a cool new Snap to Shop feature that lets you search for products just by taking a photo. We'll be back with more stories that matter. Until then, stay curious.