title: Hibernation for space travel: Impact on radioprotection.
abstract: Hibernation is a state of reduced metabolic activity used by some animals to survive in harsh environmental conditions. The idea of exploiting hibernation for space exploration has been proposed many years ago, but in recent years it is becoming more realistic, thanks to the introduction of specific methods to induce hibernation-like conditions (synthetic torpor) in non-hibernating animals. In addition to the expected advantages in long-term exploratory-class missions in terms of resource consumptions, aging, and psychology, hibernation may provide protection from cosmic radiation damage to the crew. Data from over half century ago in animal models suggest indeed that radiation effects are reduced during hibernation. We will review the mechanisms of increased radioprotection in hibernation, and discuss possible impact on human space exploration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta S.Donato 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy; National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Section of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerri
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (TIFPA), Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tinganelli
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Section of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Negrini
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (TIFPA), Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Helm
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (TIFPA), Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scifoni
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (TIFPA), Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Trento, Italy; Department of Physics, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tommasino
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Section of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy ; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maximiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sioli
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Section of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy ; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zoccoli
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (TIFPA), Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Trento, Italy. Electronic address: marco.durante@tifpa.infn.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durante
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006605:Hibernation; D006801:Humans; D008660:Metabolism; D023421:Models, Animal; D011835:Radiation Protection; D013026:Space Flight; D064348:Torpor / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Hibernation; Radioprotection; Space exploration; Space radiation; Torpor