Hibernation mechanism?

[LitaAlto]

"We Finally Know How Naked Mole Rats Survive Without Oxygen, and It's Really Freaking Weird."

tl;dr: They can switch to a fructose metabolism in low-oxygen environments. They can't sustain high-energy activity when doing so, and they effectively enter a state of hibernation. But their brains and hearts can survive up to 18 minutes without oxygen, and longer if there's some oxygen, even if CO₂ levels are what we'd consider to be dangerously high.

1) We may be able to add this metabolic option to humans, which would allow hibernation for long-term space travel, as well as enhanced survivability in a hypoxic environment.

2) I've long conjectured that Kerbals were somewhere between plant and animal, and that's how they survive spaceflight indefinitely without any obvious life support. I feel so vindicated today.

Edited April 26, 2017 by LitaAlto
Broke run-on sentence into two for easier reading.

[ARS]

Kerbals are photosynthetic. That's why they are green (and badass)

[Green Baron]

I see, thought their blood used copper for oxygen transport ...

Well then, happy photosynthesis :-)

Aren't cats reported to hibernate to most of the day, too ?

:-)

[Zeiss Ikon]

1 hour ago, Green Baron said:

Aren't cats reported to hibernate to most of the day, too ?

:-)

That's not hibernation.  They consume the same resources as if they were bouncing and zooming around the house, they just do it quietly.

[The Moose In Your House]

On ‎4‎/‎25‎/‎2017 at 9:39 PM, LitaAlto said:

"We Finally Know How Naked Mole Rats Survive Without Oxygen, and It's Really Freaking Weird."

tl;dr: They can switch to a fructose metabolism in low-oxygen environments. They can't sustain high-energy activity when doing so, and they effectively enter a state of hibernation. But their brains and hearts can survive up to 18 minutes without oxygen, and longer if there's some oxygen, even if CO₂ levels are what we'd consider to be dangerously high.

1) We may be able to add this metabolic option to humans, which would allow hibernation for long-term space travel, as well as enhanced survivability in a hypoxic environment.

2) I've long conjectured that Kerbals were somewhere between plant and animal, and that's how they survive spaceflight indefinitely without any obvious life support. I feel so vindicated today.

If they can live with no oxygen. Could they survive in space?

[munlander1]

28 minutes ago, The Moose In Your House said:

If they can live with no oxygen. Could they survive in space?

No, because they would not have developed Eva suits or pressure suits.

[The Moose In Your House]

9 minutes ago, munlander1 said:

No, because they would not have developed Eva suits or pressure suits.

Oh, but can they live in the ocean?

Edited April 30, 2017 by The Moose In Your House

[munlander1]

1 minute ago, The Moose In Your House said:

Oh, but can they live in the occean?

Since they reley on photosynthesis, I think there is a depth limit.

[The Moose In Your House]

Just now, munlander1 said:

Since they reley on photosynthesis, I think there is a depth limit.

But can they life in shallow reefs?

[munlander1]

1 minute ago, The Moose In Your House said:

But can they life in shallow reefs?

I don't think they could not. Though they would be more vulnerable from predators because they are not meant for it.

[The Moose In Your House]

5 minutes ago, munlander1 said:

Since they reley on photosynthesis, I think there is a depth limit.

Can they survive in shallow reefs?

[munlander1]

1 minute ago, The Moose In Your House said:

Can they survive in shallow reefs?

Yeah