Could Bat Blood Unlock Human Hibernation for Space Travel?

A new study suggests that the blood of hibernating bats could hold the key to enabling human hibernation for long-duration space travel. Researchers found that bat erythrocytes, or red blood cells, maintain their functionality at low temperatures, a trait that could be crucial for human hibernation. This discovery could potentially make interstellar travel feasible by reducing astronauts' metabolic needs, thereby minimizing resource consumption and psychological strain during long missions. While practical application is still distant, this research marks an important step towards realizing human hibernation for space exploration.