Arctic squirrels offer blueprint for slowing human metabolism in emergencies
Researchers studying Arctic ground squirrels, which can survive months of extreme cold by entering a deep, hibernation-like state, aim to translate this ability into human therapies that slow metabolism to buy time during heart attacks, strokes, and brain injuries. Approaches include triggering hibernation-like metabolic slowdown via adenosine-like signals or targeted brain circuit manipulation, with potential benefits for organ preservation and even long-term spaceflight, though translating these findings to humans remains experimental and challenging.