Torpor

Torpor is nature’s clever trick for survival — a temporary state where animals slow down their body functions to conserve energy. It’s like a short-term hibernation: body temperature drops, heart rate slows, and metabolism nearly shuts down. Unlike true hibernation, which can last for months, torpor can happen daily or just when needed. Animals use it to cope with cold nights, food shortages, or extreme heat, depending on their environment.

Take the hummingbird, for example. These tiny birds burn enormous energy during the day, flapping their wings hundreds of times per second. But at night, when food isn’t available and temperatures drop, many go into torpor. Their heart rate can fall from over 1,200 beats per minute to fewer than 50, and their body temperature drops significantly — saving just enough energy to make it to morning. Bats, mice, and even some species of lemurs also use torpor to get through tough times.

Scientists like Dr. Kenneth Storey and Dr. H. Craig Heller have studied torpor to understand how animals safely “pause” their systems. Their work is now inspiring research into using torpor in humans — especially for space travel. You see, we can’t enter torpor. NASA, though, is exploring the possibility of putting astronauts into torpor on long missions to Mars. If successful, it could reduce food, oxygen, and water needs, while protecting the body from muscle loss and radiation.

Torpor shows us that sometimes, slowing down is the smartest move for survival. It’s a fascinating reminder that life doesn’t always fight back by pushing harder — sometimes it endures by pressing pause.