Sub-Zero Squirrels

DesertFalcon writes "There's a Wired article about squirrels in the Arctic whose body temperatures drop below freezing when they hibernate. Scientists have the goal of applying this to humans in the long run. Could this be the answer to problems with long-distance space travel?" We had a previous story on this.

Comments

Temperature is not an issue

[ptaff]

Could this be the answer to problems with long-distance space travel?

We're talking about -3C, it's not that fantastic. Some fish already survive in waters colder than 0C, and Girl scouts already know about it :)

And if a space habitat can heat up to 270K, well I guess it can heat up to 288K. It's not that different compared to the one digit Kelvin temperature in space.

Hibernation is the real issue here.

Re:Temperature is not an issue

[Acidic_Diarrhea]

You may be completely correct. The only possible explanation of why this is more interesting than those fish (and I may be off in left field with this - so correct me if I am) aren't mammals. A squirrel is interesting because it is a mammal. Obviously the hibernation situation is the big step but I guess I see this as proof of concept that an animal similar to humans, moreso than fish anyway, can survive below freezing. Thanks for your comment nonetheless.

Re:Temperature is not an issue

[cupofjoe]

I would think the problem would be warming up after the hibernation period was over. The squirrel has to retain enough stored energy to complete this process.

Come to think of it, as long as its body fluid doesn't freeze, the required energy remains minimal - melting is what hogs up so much energy. Now, the supercooling without freezing; that suggests that squirrel blood has a very low concentration of dissolved solids - or, like a previous poster suggested, has some kind of antifreeze in there.

Because, with enough small particles for the freezing process to "grab on" to, BAM. Squirrel-cicle.

I just have to add one thing, in reference to the original article:

"PETA's Chandna said it may be difficult to translate this information into human applications. "I think squirrels are very different from us..."

Duh.

Re:Temperature is not an issue

[Anonymous Cow herd]

Freeze an organism containing water and you'll rip cellular stuctures apart.

Actually, there is a species of frog that freezes solid during the winter, and thaws out (and lives!) in the summer. More info here

Re:Temperature is not an issue

[barakn]

Organs are routinely frozen in DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), which protects the cells from ice-crystal damage. DMSO can have some toxic effects, but it still might have a place in the freezing of whole humans.