] The state of suspended animation that astronauts enter ] during long-haul space flights is a staple of ] science-fiction movies. But now the European Space Agency ] (ESA) wants to turn it into reality. ] ] ] Agency staff are planning future research into the ] possibility of inducing a hibernation-like state in ] humans. "We are not sure whether it is possible," says ] Marco Biggiogera, an expert on hibernation mechanisms at ] the University of Pavia, Italy, who is advising ESA. "But ] it's not crazy." news@nature.com - Could astronauts sleep their way to the stars? |