Hibernation is no new concept in wildlife. Every winter, several animals across the world go into a state of deep sleep with low metabolic rates that revive in spring. But there is renewed interest in understanding this physiological process, and the trigger is a frog.
Researchers at the University of Alaska are intrigued by the Alaskan frog that even stops its heart from beating during the seven months of hibernation. Come spring, the heart comes back to life and thaws the freeze, getting the frog ready for the mating season. Will Alaskan Frogs Power Space Travel? These researchers have found that while the frog is dead at an organismal level, the individual cells are still thriving, fed by high glucose levels in the body.
Essentially, the Alaskan frog begins its freeze-thaw rhythm with the onset of autumn in September. It freezes at night and thaws during the day thus, allowing the glucose that is stored in the liver to be....
