October is Space Month. At Duke University, space research is more than just science—it's a bold journey across disciplines. This is the first in a series of stories featuring innovators, dreamers and doers shaping the future of the exploration of the cosmos.
From fairy tales—such as Sleeping Beauty and Rip Van Winkle—to science fiction films, including Planet of the Apes and Alien, people have long been fascinated by the concept of humans undergoing prolonged periods of sleep.
Ana Breit's fascination started with her studies of body temperature regulation and hibernation. Her early research focused on bats, which can double their weight before entering a months-long hibernation state. A year ago, when she joined the Duke Lemur Center as a research scientist, she began studying Malagasy fat-tailed dwarf lemurs.
"Being able to study hibernation in the closest relatives to humans able to hibernate is an incredible opportunity," said Breit, who, along with Duke Lemur Center colleagues, received a $30,000 grant to study hibernation at warmer temperatures.
While many space films have depicted humans in cryogenic tubes during long space flights, in reality, this kind of "synthetic hibernation" would lead to numerous health–related challenges, including a loss of cognitive function.
To preserve cognitive function, inducing synthetic hibernation in humans will likely require temperatures warmer than those seen in traditional cold-weather hibernation. That's where lemurs come in.
To read more, click here.