You might remember in science class learning about hibernation – a time when certain animals "sleep" for long periods during the winter. In reality, hibernation is much more complex than that.

Entering a state of torpor: Hibernation involves a state called ‘torpor’. A phase where animals significantly reduce their metabolic activities to conserve energy.

Dave Miller: This is Think Out Loud on OPB. I’m Dave Miller. Animals like grizzly bears and arctic ground squirrels have evolved to hibernate as a way to survive months of extreme winter cold.

Modern-day hibernation doesn’t look all that different. However, not all animals sleep for the entire winter. Others do: For example, dwarf lemurs living in the wild hibernate between three to ...

When their insect diet becomes scarce, poorwills wait out winter days in a completely inactive state that’s unique among birds. The animals lower their body temperatures to 41 degrees Fahrenheit ...

It’s officially fall, which for humans often means snuggling up inside and anticipating the holidays ahead. Conversely, for many animals, it’s a season of intense preparation for the looming ...

A video of an adorable snoring dormouse, deep in hibernation, has gone viral this week. English dormice sleep from October to April, and animals as diverse as squirrels, lemurs, and bears all ...