Hibernation in bears has caught the attention of scientists looking for solution to some human problems. For one, information about water balance in bears during hibernation has lead to new techniques for staving off the need for hemodialysis in patients who need kidney transplants. Also, knowledge of the mechanisms of bear hibernation might help humans be able to make more of limited amounts of food, such as during space flights. The thought of sending a bear into space is also fascinating scientists, seeing as a hibernating bear would be in the perfect state to withstand long term space travel (Nelson 1973). Other scientists are trying to find if there is a link between metabolic depression in bear hibernation and depression in humans, and suggest that a good way to study major depression in humans would be through hibernating bears (Tsiouris, 2004). No matter what the application, many scientists are now studying the remarkable mechanisms of hibernation in bears in order to more fully understand a truly unique physiological phenomena.