Zebrafish Can Help Humans In Safe Space Travel

• 24 May 2021

• A new study led by researchers from Queen's University Belfast has shown that understanding an important biological process in zebrafish can help humans travel safely in space.
• Zebrafish's process of hibernation may provide potential insights into helping humans be protected from the elements of space, especially radiations, during space flight.
• When zebrafish are exposed to radiation, they are protected from it due to a hibernating process known as induced torpor.
• If humans could replicate a similar model of hibernation observed in the zebrafish, it could increase chances of making humans a spacefaring species.
• Hibernation is a commonly observed physiological process in nature. It is a state where an organism enters metabolic depression (reduced metabolism) and engages in very minimal or no physical activity. The mechanism enables several organisms to survive adverse conditions such as low environmental temperatures and scarcity of food.
• Torpor, a form of hibernation, is a brief spell of suspended animation. It usually lasts less than a day. When in torpor, an animal's metabolism, heartbeat, breathing, and body temperature are greatly reduced.
• Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a freshwater fish that is native to South Asia. They are classified as a species of least concern on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species.