🐻💤 We’ve always been told #bears spend the #winter hibernating, but they actually use a different survival trick called "torpor."

We’ve always been told #bears spend the #winter hibernating, but they actually use a different survival trick called "torpor." Unlike true hibernators that practically shut down, bears stay just active enough to shift around and even give birth.

Scientists are now studying bear blood to see if this "low-power mode" could help prevent muscle loss in humans or even prepare us for long-distance #space travel.

https://www.popsci.com/environment/do-bears-hibernate/

‍️ What is Fat Bear Week? And why are bulked up bears a great thing? https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/what-is-fat-bear-week-katmai-video

#wildlife #biology #science #medicine #nature #education #discovery