DIY biology is experiencing an evolution. People are experimenting with nootropics to enhance mental performance and with nutrigenomics (DNA tests that enable personalized diet creation) for creating personalized diet plans.
Biohacks that focus on improving physical performance include following specific diets, exercising regularly, and wearing fitness wearables.
Human Enhancement
Biohacking is an experimental and often DIY approach to biology that seeks to push beyond Big Pharma and universities by taking advantage of affordable technologies available today to broaden its boundaries. DIY biologists like biohackers seek to democratize genetics and nanotechnology through laboratory experiments on themselves using anything from body-modifying grinders to kitchen cutting boards – with all attempting to apply scientific principles directly onto living systems.
As biohacking can significantly enhance health and performance, it is vitally important that these practices are undertaken carefully in order to safeguard safety and scientific principles. Any attempt at biohacking without supervision from a physician could cause serious medical problems; similarly, gene editing experiments without proper training and oversight could prove even more risky.
Biohackers utilize various practices, with each individual selecting those which best meet their individual needs. Many biohacks focus on optimizing various physiological and biochemical processes to promote overall health; for instance, taking vitamins, minerals, antioxidants or meditation apps to support energy metabolism or insulin sensitivity as well as optimizing sleep cycles with various sleep tracking devices or meditation apps are some ways in which biohacking practices may help. Other strategies for physical optimization may include sauna bathing, wearable fitness devices for exercising more efficiently or muscle building supplements are all methods used by biohackers as part of physical optimization strategies such as sauna bathing, exercise wearable wearables for improving exercise intensity or muscle building supplements for muscle building augmentation.
Another effective biohack involves improving brain function through neurotransmitter modulators like BDNF. These compounds can increase neural activity while stimulating neurogenesis and neuroplasticity processes; furthermore they can aid concentration and focus while even helping with depression or anxiety symptoms. Other methods for brain biohacking may include meditation, brainwave entrainment therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy treatments.
More extreme forms of biohacking involve the use of technological implants. Elon Musk co-founded Neuralink in order to develop a brain-computer interface, with hopes of eventually enabling humans to control computers using only their minds – something which would ensure advancements align with human interests in the long run. Unfortunately, such human enhancement raises concerns regarding equality and bias when applied through new technologies – therefore it is imperative that adequate ethical frameworks and regulations are in place before permitting anyone to undergo these kinds of enhancements.
Human Augmentation
Human enhancement is an ever-increasing trend that bridges the divide between man and machine. Commonly referred to as “biohacking,” this practice allows individuals to improve their health, performance, and overall quality of life through diet, exercise, supplements, or implantable technology. Biohackers employ multiple strategies such as biohacking to achieve this end.
Biohackers are part of the larger transhumanist community who believe humans can surpass both physical and cognitive limits through technological advancements. These individuals typically adhere to an approach emphasizing self-monitoring and data-driven decision making, while often trying to slow the aging process through caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, or supplementation with compounds like resveratrol or NAD+.
Biohackers utilize many enhancements currently available on the consumer market for use by themselves or others, from electronic tattoos (biostamps), password pills, memory chips and magnetic implants that can be implanted under the skin to improve motor function. People may seek these enhancements for various reasons ranging from increasing mental capabilities to increasing athletic performance; regardless of why these advances may be pursued there has been debate as to their regulation or not.
Kaspersky recently conducted a comprehensive study that polled more than 1,000 individuals about their attitudes regarding human augmentation technologies. Most respondents favored regulating access to these devices – 77% in the UK were in support of this idea alone and 39% worldwide were also supportive; results varied depending on country of study.
The study’s results also indicated that respondents’ perception of ownership over an augmentation varied depending on both their country of origin and type. Participants from Germany were more likely to perceive cognitive augmentation as taking away someone’s agency; whereas responses from Japan suggested achievements should be valued regardless of augmentation – in contrast to most participants who believed using one had negative repercussions for privacy.
Human Activation
Biohacking allows individuals to fine-tune their bodies by analyzing and interpreting data collected via wearables or other devices. Individuals can then experiment with diet, exercise modalities, supplements and more in order to optimize health and cognitive performance – using biohacking data collected through wearables or devices to assess which methods are most successful and gain insight into any relationship between diet and genes that exist between themselves and genetic variations in their diets.
Some of the most sought-after biohacks focus on improving athletic performance and nutrition. For instance, athletes often utilize cold therapy to increase circulation and speed recovery time while others experiment with ketogenic diets to burn fat and increase energy levels. Furthermore, gene editing software may even be utilized to modify genetic codes in order to enhance physical or mental performance.
These hacks can be highly effective, yet it is essential to remember their potential dangers. Before conducting any self-experiments on yourself or others, always consult a medical professional first and learn more about the biology of any interventions as well as any long-term effects or potential hazards associated with these technologies. Biohackers must also understand any associated risks.
Though many biohacking practices are supported by scientific evidence, others may not. Therefore, it is wise to conduct extensive research before undertaking any biohacks. Furthermore, it’s crucial that one consider the impact biohacking could have on marginalized communities as technological advancement can bring with it a variety of social and cultural tensions that should not be disregarded.
Biohacking offers exciting prospects for human enhancement, yet it must strike a balance between personal freedom and responsible practice. Furthermore, making certain these technologies accessible to everyone regardless of socioeconomic status will reduce any potential for abuse of these advancements and help protect against racism, sexism, and ableism within biohacking itself. Finally, an ideal balance should be struck between enhancing our bodies while still preserving them through procedures like cryonics which preserve human bodies after cell death – this practice is often referred to as transhumanism which preserves human bodies after death through procedures such as cryonics preservation after which human remains preserved after death – to preserve humanity through “transhumanism”.
Human Transhumanism
Biohackers often espouse human transhumanism as an integral tenet. This movement stems from the belief that current forms of Homo sapiens represent only an early step in evolution and supports artificially accelerating and augmenting natural evolution using gene, robotic, information and nanotechnology (GRIN), ultimately making humans superhuman in terms of speed, strength and health.
Gene editing involves altering the genetic code within humans through genetic editing. Johansson describes her life logging as an attempt to “expand and push the limits of what my body can do” (Johansson, 2020). Her biohacking involves numerous technological measurements – finger rings that track sleep patterns or combination blood glucose and ketone meters are among them – but also encompasses more holistic activities like meditation, healing, and power thinking for self-improvement.
As such, she seeks not only to improve her own health but to profoundly alter human lives as a whole. Her augmentation acts as a form of activism which challenges determinism by altering genetic essentialism through deliberate modification of biological function and composition in her own body.
Some biohackers work in academic research laboratories, while many prefer home experiments on themselves. The biohacking movement has given rise to a niche called “grinders,” who produce implant devices through 3D printing and use hand devices like Lepht Anonym’s hand device that allows her to control a computer through gesture control; basic functions include moving mouse cursors and clicking buttons while its unique abilities extend even further, such as picking up metal objects like bottle caps.
These new technologists recognize that their augmentations can be controversial and wish to clarify that they do not advocate a superhuman race. Furthermore, they anticipate significant societal pressure to push biohacking forward faster, and are concerned about widening gaps between those enhanced and those not enhanced; but are hopeful that an ‘radical enhancement tipping point’ will be avoided by making gradual improvements over time.
