lestasis

Lestasis is a term used primarily in speculative fiction and theoretical discussions to describe a controlled state of metabolic suppression and bodily stasis intended to preserve function during long periods of inactivity. It is not a standard term in mainstream biology or medicine, and definitions vary widely; what is common is the idea of reversibility and restoration of normal activity after a period of dormancy.

Etymology and usage: The coinage has appeared in science fiction and in discussions of hypothetical life-extension or interstellar travel technologies. There is no universally accepted definition; authors describe varying levels of metabolic downregulation, cellular protection, and methods for reawakening.

In fiction and media, lestasis is often depicted as a technology or physiological state enabling deep-space journeys, cryo-like storage, or delayed medical treatment. It may rely on fictional mechanisms or plausible extrapolations of real-world concepts such as metabolic suppression, cooling, or vitrification.

Real-world context: In actual biomedicine, related concepts include therapeutic hypothermia, metabolic suppression, anabiosis, and cryopreservation. Major challenges include achieving safe induction, avoiding cellular damage during cooling and rewarming, and ensuring reliable, reversible recovery.

See also: suspended animation, hibernation, cryonics, metabolic suppression, anabiosis.