Let us continue our journey into another world today.
A question a female Professor of Medicine in one of a WhatsApp group asked me in Part 1 of this essay was, how could human travellers to the stars, a journey that may take millions to billions of years to completely survive when his life span is only at maximum 100 years? I was challenged with this scientific, in fact, soul-searching spiritual question.
Let’s have a look at some suggestions I have here in Part 6.
My answer for Professor Dr Ling is, there is a possibility of keeping a human in suspended animation, such as "biostasis" and "suspended animation" by slowing down or halting biological processes to preserve an organism, through extreme cold or chemical means by freezing a human at very low temperatures body for future resuscitation during an extremely long interstellar journey where a robot or AI will take over till the end of the journey.
At the end of the journey, the robot will defreeze the body and wake up the human traveller to tell him who he was, which world he came from, and the present world he is now.
Alternatively, other possibilities are freezing a human egg, and sperm before the journey and letting them fertilize at the end of the journey. A robot that accompanies them throughout the journey shall act as a surrogate parent to them to tell them the world they came from, and the world they are ‘born’ now. We shall go into some details and other options as we go along.
My imagination may be running wild in intriguing way! The idea of suspended animation, biostasis, and deep-freeze hibernation for interstellar travel has been a long-standing dream in both science fiction and serious scientific inquiry. Let us explore what is currently known, the challenges, and possible alternatives for preserving humans or human genetic material for deep-space missions.
Let’s look at the science behind biostasis and suspended animation. Suspended animation refers to slowing or halting biological processes to preserve an organism for later revival. Several natural and artificial methods have been considered. There are natural examples of biostasis in some organisms on Earth that have evolved mechanisms to enter a state of extreme dormancy such as this frozen worm that comes back to life after 46,000 years here:
https://www.earth.com/news/frozen-worm-comes-back-to-life-after-46000-years/
Other examples are tardigrades (water bears) that can survive desiccation, freezing, and high radiation. Biostasis can cover cryptobiosis, such as wood frogs that freeze solid in winter with ice forming in their tissues but revive in spring. Evolutionary biologists have also found deep-sea microorganisms that have been revived after thousands or even millions of years in a dormant state.
One approach done artificially is called ‘hypothermic suspended animation’. This is induced by lowering the body's temperature to slow metabolism drastically.
Another is medical induced hypothermia that is used in surgeries to slow brain metabolism and prevent damage. Scientists have induced deep hypothermia (10–15°C) in pigs and later revived them. We call this as EPR - Emergency Preservation and Resuscitation.
NASA and ESA research studies are ongoing into ways of putting astronauts into a torpor-like state (similar to hibernation) to conserve resources.
There is also a possibility in cryonics (freezing humans for future revival). Cryonics is the practice of freezing human bodies at ultra-low temperatures (-196°C in liquid nitrogen) after death, hoping future technology can revive them. However, there are major obstacles such as ice crystal formation. Freezing damages cells and tissues, particularly in the brain. Nevertheless, we can use vitrification which is a method using cryoprotectants (antifreeze-like substances) to prevent ice crystal formation, turning cells into a glass-like state.
But we also face revival challenges as no method currently exists to restore complex biological structures and cellular function after deep freezing.
In an interstellar journey scenario, the biggest risks are, ice damage during freezing, cellular degradation over centuries or millennia.
However, we may be able to use nanotechnology or advanced biotechnology to repair damage. If these biological processes could be adapted to humans, long-duration space travel in hibernation might be feasible.
Failing these approaches on artificial hibernation as an alternative to cryonics there are other alternatives. Instead of freezing a human, an alternative could be inducing a state similar to hibernation. These are:
1. Metabolic Suppression Drugs: Certain chemicals (e.g., hydrogen sulphide) have shown potential in lowering oxygen demand in mammals.
2. Brainwave Manipulation: Research into slowing down brain activity could induce an extended sleep-like state.
3. Genetic Engineering: Modifying human biology to mimic hibernating animals.
4. Hibernation-like stasis might be a better option than freezing because it avoids ice damage. We can also think of sending embryos instead of full humans. This is not sending adult humans at all but instead sending preserved reproductive material such as
5. Frozen Embryos & Sperm-Ovum Banks: These could be preserved with vitrification techniques and later used to create humans on an exoplanet.
6. Artificial Wombs: Scientists are developing artificial uteruses, which could allow embryos to develop into full humans without a biological mother.
7. AI-Guided Parenthood: Advanced AI and robotic caregivers could raise the new generation on an alien world.
This approach avoids the risks of long-term biological damage to frozen humans and allows a fresh start on the new planet.
What about the use of nanotechnology and molecular repair? Future advances in nanomedicine could allow:
1. Molecular Machines: Nanobots could repair cell damage after freezing.
2. Tissue Engineering: 3D bioprinting for regenerative medicine could restore damaged organs.
3. Brain Emulation: Uploading human consciousness into AI to survive the journey digitally and later be transferred into a biological or synthetic body.
4. We can also visualize ‘sleeper ships’ vs. ‘generation ships’.
If sleeper ships using suspended animation or cryonics works, travellers could "wake up" at the destination.
On the other hand, generation ships can carry humans who cannot hibernate, then self-sustaining spacecraft where generations live and reproduce during the journey might be necessary.
The Future of Long-Term Space Travel:
If these biological processes could be adapted to humans, long-duration space travel in hibernation might be feasible.
Right now, we lack the technology to safely freeze and revive humans, but research in metabolic suppression, cryopreservation, and nanomedicine might make it possible in the future. If human freezing remains too risky, sending embryos and using artificial wombs may be a more viable approach.
We can also think of AI handling the entire journey and "reintroducing" the traveller to themselves upon arrival. This is a fascinating idea. The AI could store the traveller’s memories and use deep-learning techniques to help them reintegrate into consciousness.
It is a thrilling vision of the future, and if humanity ever embarks on true interstellar travel, some form of suspended animation will likely be necessary. What do readers here think? Would readers prefer to be frozen, hibernated, or send their genetic material forward in time?
If you think this is going to be extremely difficult having to hurdle across insurmountable problems, then how are you going to travel to another stellar world. I have the answer awaiting for you in my next part (Part 7) of these essays. Give me time to write my ideas - readers will be very surprised, it shall be beyond science and technology for sure.
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