DARPA is well known for its ‘out there’ notions that push the boundaries of existing science and tech. Its latest program is no exception. Inspired by some of nature’s hardiest beasts, it plans to develop a technique of “slowing biological time” to give soldiers wounded on the battleground more time to wait for medical attention. Yes, like most things DARPA does, it sounds like something out of a video game or sci-fi movie. But it’s not quite as mad as it voices, and you can’t argue with the reasoning behind it. “When a Service member suffers a traumatic hurt or acute infection, the time from event to first medical treatment is typically the single most significant factor in determining the outcome between saving a life or not, ” the agency said in a statement announcing the program. Describing that initial window as the “Golden Hour”, DARPA- the Defense Advanced Research Programme Agency, tasked with developing new technologies for the military- has looked towards nature to buy that critical time. Its program: to “slow life to save life”. ![]() “Our goal with Biostasis is to control those molecular machines[ that transform chemical and kinetic energy into biological processes] and get them to all slow their rolling at about the same rate so that we can slow down the entire system gracefully and avoid adverse consequences when the intervention is reversed or wears off, ” explained Biostasis program director Tristan McClure-Begley. Despite sounding suspiciously like cryonics, the Biostasis program is actually inspired by process that already occur in nature. Some organisms can use proteins to control and slow down cellular roles in extreme circumstances. Tardigrades, for example, are famous for their capacity to induce a country of cryptobiosis to survive freezing conditions, hot, dehydration, and even radiation. Wood frogs do it too, living being frozen solid for days on end despite all indications that metabolic processes have stopped and they find themselves, for all intents and purposes, dead. “Nature is a source of inspiration, ” said McClure-Begley. “If we can figure out the best ways to bolster other biological systems and attain them less likely to enter a runaway downward spiral after being damaged, then we will have made a significant addition to the biology toolbox.” However, despite their lofty desires, actually preserving bodies on the battlefield akin to perhaps the brain-protecting Alpha-Gel from Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a long way off. The Biostasis program is currently striving proof-of-concept ways to slow down the body’s biochemical process, the most difficult hurdle being ensuring no permanent damage to the cells when the process is overruled. Similar techniques could also be applied to exploring expand the shelf-life of blood products and drugs to reduce the reaction times- all critical in that initial golden hour, which DARPA readily admits is often much less than 60 minutes. from https://bestmovies.fun/2018/03/08/darpa-wants-to-slow-down-the-human-body-to-save-lives-on-the-battlefield/
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