Ultrasound-induced hibernation for space travel breakthroughs

Researchers have been able to induce a torpor-like state in mice by targeting a specific part of the brain with short bursts of ultrasound. The findings suggest that studying the neural circuits involved in torpor could reveal ways to manipulate metabolism beyond the lab. The researchers identified a protein in the brain membranes, TRPM2, that appears to be sensitive to ultrasound. The study also found that rats slowed down and their body temperatures dropped when the same brain region was stimulated with ultrasound. The possibility of using ultrasound to change the metabolism of larger animals, including humans, remains an unanswered question.