The Science of Bear Hibernation

Scientists monitor hibernating black bears to look for solutions that could benefit humans

It's no secret that bears hibernate in winter—so it's a little surprising how little we know about it. A new study by Øivind Tøien of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks sheds a little light on bear dens in winter, and it turns out what's going on with a bear's body is way more complex than just passing out. The results could even lead to innovations in medical treatment.

Tøien and his team took five Alaskan problem black bears and provided them with artificial dens far into the woods—so far Tøien had to ski out to collect the data. The bears were fitted with sensors to capture temperature and heart rate, and researchers outfitted dens with infrared cameras and other sensors to monitor the bears' movement, oxygen consumption, and even their snoring. (Watch it here.)

After five months of watching snoring bears, the scientists ended up with some interesting findings. While most hibernating animals' temperature drops to just above freezing, bears keep theirs around 6 degrees Celsius. While sleeping, they conserve energy by taking one to two breaths per minute; their hearts flutter briefly when they breath and then stop, reducing heartbeats to four per minute. Oxygen and metabolic consumption drops by 75 percent, and bears prep for this by wandering around and eating like normal for a few weeks before hibernation, but with a lowered metabolic rate so they can store more energy than they consume.

What does this mean for people? Scientists think that with extended study it may enable us to slow metabolic rates for accident victims, extending a "golden hour" treatment window into a "golden week." Lowered metabolism in humans with heart ailments could enable them to lead a more active life.

And don't forget the sci-fi implications: Yes, the scientists admit that it offers insight into how humans might replicate a hibernating state for long-distance space travel. But that's a long way off. Plenty of mysteries remain, like how bears retain bone and muscle mass, and how their brain survives with such little oxygen without incurring any damage.

—Ted Alvarez

Science

PRINT THIS PAGE EMAIL THIS PAGE RSS FEED

Digg Delicious Yahoo Facebook Reddit StumbleUpon Google Newsvine Facebook Twitter

READERS COMMENTS

http://www.yourjerseyhome.com

Mar 20, 2013

cheap china nfl jerseys online sale http://www.yourjerseyhome.com Nike San Francisco 49ers jerseys,Nike Baltimore Ravens Jerseys all kinds sports jerseys
http://www.yourjerseyhome.com/Nike-NFL-Jerseys-c124.html Nike NFL Jerseys http://www.yourjerseyhome.com/MLB-Jerseys-c94.html cool base mlb jerseys
http://www.yourjerseyhome.com/NBA-Jerseys-c77.html Revolution 30 nba jerseys
http://www.yourjerseyhome.com/NFL-T-Shirt-c126.html wholesale NFL T-Shirt,
http://www.jerseycaptain.com http://www.jersey2shop.com

http://www.yourjerseyhome.com

Mar 20, 2013

http://www.3cjerseys.com

Jan 29, 2013

cheap convenient and creditworthy is our online store's (http://www.3cjerseys.com) service tenet . you can buy all kinds of cheap nfl jerseys here , just as nfl jerseys , basketball jerseys , NHL jerseys , Football jerseys ,the new era hats , we also provide jerseys customized service . All the products in our website are from china with wholesale price , so you can buy cheap products wiht high quality ! Now ,you can choose different payment in our website ,just as paypal , western union and VISA credit card . more information please visit http://www.3cjerseys.com;http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com

coco

Oct 12, 2012

Welcome http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com cheap nfl jerseys website, this site specializes in producing the NFL, MBL, NHL all kinds of jersey, we offer the latest 2012 nike jersey, with the best quality and the cheapest price, http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com/Nike-NFL-Jerseys-c124.html Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, the perfect jersey to let you enjoy the sport, to make you crazy for sports, http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com/ MLB-Jerseys-c94.html Cheap MLB Jerseys, if you buy our http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com on the jersey, we give you a discount, http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com/NFL-Jerseys-c68.html Discount NFL Jerseys, integrity sales jersey purchase quantity we will free shipping http://www.21elitenfljerseys.com/NFL-T-Shirt-c126.html wholesale NFL T-Shirt, join us for freemembers have more discount.

ugg boots

Jul 22, 2011

[url=http://www.uggnetstore.com ]Australia Sheepskin Ugg Boots on sale,you can buy cheap ugg boots,ugg boots 5815,discount ugg boots 5825,ugg boots 5823,ugg boots for womens,Australia Sheepskin Ugg Boots,ugg winter boots,UGG Bailey Button,UGG Classic Short,UGG Classic Tall,Ugg Classic Cardy.[/url]
[url=http://www.uggnetstore.com/ ]ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.uggnetstore.com/ ]cheap uggs[/url]
[url=http://www.uggnetstore.com/ ]UGG Bailey Button[/url]
[url=http://www.uggnetstore.com/ ]UGG Classic Short[/url]
[url=http://www.uggnetstore.com/ ]UGG Classic Short[/url]
[url=http://www.uggnetstore.com/ ]Ugg Classic Cardy[/url]
[url=http://www.uggnetstore.com/ ]ugg winter boots[/url]
[url=http://www.uggnetstore.com/ ]Australia Sheepskin Ugg Boots on sale[/url]
[url=http://www.uggentityshop.com ]Australia Sheepskin Ugg Boots on sale,you can buy cheap ugg boots,ugg boots 5815,discount ugg boots 5825,ugg boots 5823,ugg boots for womens,Australia Sheepskin Ugg Boots,ugg winter boots,UGG Bailey Button,UGG Classic Short,UGG Classic Tall,Ugg Classic Cardy.[/url]
[url=http://www.uggentityshop.com/ ]UGG Bailey Button[/url]
[url=http://www.uggentityshop.com/ ]UGG Classic Short[/url]
[url=http://www.uggentityshop.com/ ]ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.uggentityshop.com/ ]cheap uggs[/url]
[url=http://www.uggentityshop.com/ ]Ugg Classic Cardy[/url]
[url=http://www.uggentityshop.com/ ]ugg winter boots[/url]
[url=http://www.uggentityshop.com/ ]Australia Sheepskin Ugg Boots on sale[/url]
[url=http://www.netbuyugg.com ]Australia Sheepskin Ugg Boots on sale,you can buy cheap ugg boots,ugg boots 5815,discount ugg boots 5825,ugg boots 5823,ugg boots for womens,Australia Sheepskin Ugg Boots,ugg winter boots,UGG Bailey Button,UGG Classic Short,UGG Classic Tall,Ugg Classic Cardy.[/url]
[url=http://www.netbuyugg.com/ ]ugg winter boots[/url]
[url=http://www.netbuyugg.com/ ]Australia Sheepskin Ugg Boots on sale[/url]
[url=http://www.netbuyugg.com/ ]ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.netbuyugg.com/ ]cheap uggs[/url]
[url=http://www.netbuyugg.com/ ]UGG Bailey Button[/url]
[url=http://www.netbuyugg.com/ ]UGG Classic Short[/url]
[url=http://www.netbuyugg.com/ ]UGG Classic Short[/url]
[url=http://www.netbuyugg.com/ ]Ugg Classic Cardy[/url]
[url=http://www.ibuyugg.com ]Welcome to the cheap uggs|a nature shop website offering a comprehensive range of sheepskin cheap uggs and ugg boots. Aside from our highly competitive pricing,we offer free fast shipping world wide included in all of our prices and a 100% products original package of ugg boots.[/url]
[url=http://www.ibuyugg.com/ugg-classic-short-boots.html ]ugg classic short[/url]
[url=http://www.ibuyugg.com/ ]wholesale ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.ibuyugg.com/ ]ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.ibuyugg.com/ ]cheap uggs[/url]
[url=http://www.ibuyugg.com/ ]ugg boots sale[/url]
[url=http://www.uggbootsgood.com ]Authentic cheap UGGs store,buy latest styles and cheap UGG Boots.welcome to our professional UGGs for cheap store|offering UGG Boots sale and UGGs outlet on all styles|save up to 70%|free shipping and fast delivery.[/url]
[url=http://www.uggbootsgood.com/ ]ugg boots online[/url]
[url=http://www.uggbootsgood.com/ ]ugg boots sale[/url]
[url=http://www.uggbootsgood.com/ ]ugg boots outlet[/url]
[url=http://www.uggbootsgood.com/ ]uggs for cheap[/url]
[url=http://www.uggbootsgood.com/ ]uggs on sale[/url]
[url=http://www.uggbootsgood.com/ ]ugg australia[/url]
[url=http://www.uggbootsgood.com/ ]ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.esaleugg.com ]Welcome to the cheap uggs,a nature shop website offering a comprehensive range of sheepskin cheap uggs and ugg boots. Aside from our highly competitive pricing|we offer free fast shipping world wide included in all of our prices and a 100% products original package of ugg boots.[/url]
[url=http://www.esaleugg.com/ ]uggs outlet[/url]
[url=http://www.esaleugg.com/ ]wholesale ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.esaleugg.com/ ]ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.esaleugg.com/ ]cheap uggs[/url]
[url=http://www.esaleugg.com/ ]uggs for cheap[/url]
[url=http://www.esaleugg.com/ ]ugg boots sale[/url]
[url=http://www.prettyuggboots.com ]prettyuggboots.com ugg boots website sales AAA replica ugg boots ,50%-70% Off Freeshipping cheap ugg boot,fake ugg boots ,UGG sheepskin shoes,UGG celtic sheepskin,Best after-sale service and fast delivery![/url]
[url=http://www.prettyuggboots.com/ ]ugg boots website[/url]
[url=http://www.prettyuggboots.com/ ]replica ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.prettyuggboots.com/ ]ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.prettyuggboots.com/ ]cheap uggs[/url]
[url=http://www.prettyuggboots.com/ ]cheap ugg boot[/url]
[url=http://www.prettyuggboots.com/ ]fake ugg boots[/url]
[url=http://www.prettyuggboots.com/ ]wholesale ugg boots[/url]