Super cool squirrels!

December 11, 2003 1:30 PM

Super cool squirrels! "We believe that a ground squirrel, when it goes into hibernation, produces chemical messengers that are released from the brain that direct the slowing down of the metabolism... If we were able to synthesize the same chemical compounds and make them available in an injection, it could be administered to induce a hibernation-like state in humans."

And they're cute, too.
posted by moonbird (5 comments total)

I have this already. I call it "Christmas Dinner".
posted by Ogre Lawless at 1:45 PM on December 11, 2003

This hibernation drug, we must have it, I say!.......

Render them down by the millions.





Oh, but they are cute, you say? OK don't render them down by the millions. But perhaps there's a less attractive species.....Or, maybe we can make genetically altered squirrrels, squirrels without brains grown in vats. Yes, yes YES! That's what we must do. Then, the fruits of hibernation will be ours....
posted by troutfishing at 2:34 PM on December 11, 2003

Render them down by the millions.

I just have this image now of the South Park episode where Christopher Reeve keeps snapping open the babies to suck the life-giving fluids out. Thanks, trout.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 2:54 PM on December 11, 2003

If we ever get to taking years-long trips in space, we're going to need something like this.
posted by trondant at 4:50 PM on December 11, 2003

XQUXZYPHYR - I'm sorry that I've polluted your mind with my fantasy of an evil squirrel holocaust. I guess I've become hardened to evil imagery. Hey! - don't we essentially do that aforementioned 'squirrel holocaust' thing to pigs, chickens and cows, with the meat-packing leftovers not considered fit for human consumption going into pet food? So what South Park episode was that again?.....

squirrels can be scary, especially when they are paratroopers.

Or when they attack :

posted by troutfishing at 7:16 AM on December 12, 2003