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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Space Technol.
Sec. Space Exploration
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/frspt.2024.1471001

Understanding the Scientific Validity of Synthetic Torpor for radiation research and extended space missions

Provisionally accepted
Anggraeini Puspitasari Kokko Anggraeini Puspitasari Kokko 1,2Reema Chowdhury Reema Chowdhury 3Katelin Sherman Katelin Sherman 4Matteo Cerri Matteo Cerri 5,6,7Walter Tinganelli Walter Tinganelli 3*
  • 1 HollandPTC, Delft, Netherlands, Delft, Netherlands
  • 2 Heavy Ion Medical Center, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan, Gunma, Japan
  • 3 GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (HZ), Darmstadt, Germany
  • 4 Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • 5 Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
  • 6 National Institute of Nuclear Physics of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
  • 7 Center for Neurosciences and Brain Technologies, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Genova, Liguria, Italy

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The idea of synthetic torpor, an artificial state resembling the hypo-metabolic state of torpor/hibernation, has recently gained significant scientific attention. Building on pioneering research demonstrating the protective effects of torpor against radiation in mammals, this minireview aims to evaluate its scientific validity. We will explore the theoretical foundations, practical applications, and potential challenges linked to synthetic torpor. By critically examining the current knowledge, we aim to determine if synthetic torpor is a scientifically viable and achievable concept with broad implications for fields such as space exploration and healthcare.

    Keywords: Synthetic torpor, Radiation, space radiation, Hibernation, torpor, Hypothermia

    Received: 26 Jul 2024; Accepted: 29 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Kokko, Chowdhury, Sherman, Cerri and Tinganelli. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Walter Tinganelli, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (HZ), Darmstadt, Germany

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.