Have you ever dreamed of visiting a planet in the Milky Way? While the trip sounds exciting, it would take years and years to reach the place that we are going to. So in the future, bedtime for astronauts may be more than a few hours of regular shut-eye. They would have to sleep for years.
European researchers are now doing hibernation experiments. The study may help them understand whether humans could ever sleep through the years it would take for a space flight to distant planets. “If there was an effective technology, it could make deep-space travel come true,” said Mark Ayer of the European Space Agency last month.
What seems like science fiction is not completely impossible. Researchers have been able to use chemicals to put living cells into a sleep-like state where they don’t age. They have now moved on to small, non-hibernating mammals like rats. The results will be out soon.
A major challenge is the fact that cells can be very simple systems, but body organs are far more complex(复杂的).
“It's like moving from a simple Apple computer to a supercomputer,” said Marco Biggiogera, a hibernation researcher at Italy’s University of Pavia.
Just like bears and frogs, the hibernation of human beings would cause a person’s metabolism (新陈代谢) to lower so they would need less energy.
Medical research, however, is just half of a space flight hibernation system.
There is the challenge of designing a suitable protective place to live. Such a place would provide the proper environment for hibernation, such as the proper temperature. It would also have to monitor (监控) life functions and serve the physiological needs of the hibernator.
According to Ayer, the six-person Human Outer Planets Exploration Mission to Jupiter’s moon (木星的卫星) Callisto, could be an opportunity to use human hibernation. The mission aims to send six humans on a five-year flight to Callisto, where they will spend 30 days, in 2045.
根据材料内容选择最佳答案, 将其标号填入题前括号内。
What is the meaning of “hibernation” in Chinese in this passage?
According to the article, the research _______.
A.is just an idea |
B.is always a science fiction |
C.has already finished successfully |
D.has made some progress |
In a hibernating situation, a person needs _______.
A.less sleep |
B.more food |
C.less energy |
D.more movement |
The first try of the hibernation technology_____ the six person Human Outer Planets Exploration Mission to Jupiter’s moon Callisto.
A.will be |
B.has been planned for |
C.is certain to be |
D.may be |
What’s the best title for the passage?
A.Hibernation study for space travel |
B.Welcome to our space travel |
C.To hibernate, to live longer |
D.Welcome to the Milky Way |