A Refreshing Nap

Hibernation Helps Bears Heal

Animal Rights – Doctors and zoologists have been researching American Black Bears and they found something interesting. The bears are able to pull off a feat some of the most critically wounded humans wish they could manage — they can heal themselves while they sleep.

Researchers followed a small group of bears that had infected or inflamed pre-den wounds, only to find that once the bears emerged from hibernation, they had nary a scar and had even begun to grow hair over the wounded area again. The zoologists then made the very brave decision to make small cuts into the group of bears before their next hibernation period. When the bears came out again, the cuts were all but gone.

“Further research as to the underlying mechanisms of wound healing during hibernation could have applications in human medicine,” wrote the zoologists for the Integrated Zoology journal. Focusing the implications of their findings, researchers stated, “Unique approaches may be found to improve healing for malnourished, hypothermic, diabetic, and elderly patients or to reduce scarring associated with burns and traumatic injuries.”

If all goes smoothly (which it never does, but one can hope) and doctors and zoologists can figure out how to pull this off, human medicine will have reached a whole new era.

To read more, visit the BBC.