hibernacle
noun

- a winter retreat, winter quarters, a wintering place
- a place where an animal hibernates

Wiktionary

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ORIGIN

1708, from Latin hibernacula (plural) “tents for winter,” which is related to hibernare “to winter, occupy winter quarters”, and is the root of our words hibernation, hibernate, and hibernator.

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GROUNDHOGS

Traditionally relied upon to predict the weather, groundhogs* (or woodchucks as they are also known) are true hibernators.

During up to five months of hibernation, groundhogs lose a fourth of their body weight, their heart rates plunge from 80 beats per minute to only 5, body temperature drops from 99 to 37 degrees, and breathing slows dramatically from 16 breaths per minute to only two.

*groundhog = Murmeltier

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HUMAN HIBERNATION

Although Elon Musk is ‘highly confident’ SpaceX will land humans on Mars by 2026, the seven-month trip to Mars carries risks of space radiation, space psychosis, and muscle atrophy.

According to the European Space Agency (ESA) putting astronauts to sleep for deep space voyages would mitigate health risks, allow for more efficient spaceship designs, and save money.

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PRACTICE OWAD in a conversation, say something like

“On cold, dark, wintry days I curl up in my cuddly, warm HIBERNACLE, and dream of apricity.”

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Paul Smith