文章大意:这是一篇说明文。主要介绍了欧洲航天局(ESA)的一名研究人员认为,首次以人类为研究对象的冬眠研究可能在十年内实现。这样的实验将使像科幻小说一样的长期太空任务成为可能,宇航员将在前往遥远目的地的途中进入保护性睡眠数周或数月。
The first hibernation (冬眠) studies with human subjects could be workable within a decade, a European Space Agency (ESA) researcher thinks. Such experiments would make it possible for a science-fiction-like approach to long-time space missions that would see astronauts placed into protective sleep for weeks or months on their way to faraway destinations.
Experiments have shown that it’s possible to cause hibernation in otherwise non-hibernating animals, such as rats, and bring them safely back to life a few days later. “The rats receive a drug, a neurotransmitter substance (神经递质), and are brought into a dark space with reduced temperature,” Jurgen Bereiter-Hahn, a member of ESA’s hibernation research group said. “It works very nicely, but the problem is that you have to apply the drug repeatedly to maintain the state, which could have damaging effects over the longer term.”
The hibernating astronaut would not only save the agency cost for water, food and oxygen. Astronauts would, most likely, wake up rather fit, without suffering many of the negative side effects of long-term bed rest or living in microgravity. In fact, studies show that the slowed down cells of a hibernating body don’t get damaged by radiation (辐射). Besides, research in animals suggests that bodies of hibernating astronauts might lose much less bone and muscle mass than the bodies of those awake in microgravity. Upon arrival, these hibernators would thus be fit and ready to start challenging exploration almost straight away after regaining awareness.
These protective qualities make hibernation a possibility not just for spaceflight, but also for medicine. Just like astronauts in microgravity, patients in long-term bed rest waste away quickly. Slowing life processes to a minimum would provide what scientists call a “bridge”, a period of time that would allow physicians to look for solutions without racing against the clock. Although most current hibernation research is funded by space agencies, scientists think that the first human to be put into this state of hibernation will most likely be an ICU patient. Once the first human survives and benefits from hibernation, things will likely start moving forward much faster.
12. According to paragraph 1, what do the hibernation studies mainly aim to do?
A.Improve sleep quality in space. | B.Investigate hibernation mystery. |
C.Promote manned space exploration. | D.Enrich science fiction writing methods. |
13. What is a challenge in the hibernation experiments?
A.Ensuring proper lighting. | B.Bringing animals back to life. |
C.Maintaining low temperature. | D.Controlling possible side effects. |
14. What advantage might hibernation bring to astronauts?
A.It might help to keep physical fitness. | B.It might increase long-term bed rest. |
C.It might decrease radiation contact. | D.It might raise mental awareness. |
15. What is the last paragraph mainly about?
A.The role of physicians in monitoring hibernating patients. |
B.The possible application of hibernation beyond spaceflight. |
C.The importance for increasing funds for hibernation research. |
D.The need of human experiments in advancing hibernation studies. |