Biohackers from Tehachapi, California theorised that an analogue of chlorophyll found in deep sea fish could be used to induce night vision in healthy eyes. With their own home-brewed formula and Gabriel Licina volunteering as their test subject, they administered Ce6 into Gabriel Licina’s eyes; after only 20 drops were administered he was able to identify symbols and people 50 meters away 100% accurately!
1. Chlorin e6 (Ce6)
A group of self-described biohackers have devised and tested eye drops that enable people to see in the dark. Using chemical from deep sea fish, their solution works by amplifying low light sources that would otherwise remain invisible – creating something of a superhero effect!
Science for the Masses from Tehachapi, Calif. decided to experiment with Chlorin e6 (Ce6), an analog of chlorophyll used as an effective cancer therapy and for treating night blindness in some people. They hypothesized that by applying Ce6 directly onto healthy human eyes it might temporarily restore night vision; their volunteer subject Gabriel Licina served as their guinea pig in this experiment.
After six months of studying scientific papers and refining their formula, Licina and her colleagues were ready to put it through rigorous testing. With an instrument similar to a turkey baster, they carefully administered 50 microliters of Ce6 into Licina’s eyes – where it would then absorb into Licina’s retinas over the course of about an hour and begin working effectively.
Comparative to his controls who also received equal amounts of Ce6, he was able to accurately identify objects and symbols under low light conditions ten meters away, including small shapes at first and then complete figures 50 meters distant. He reported seeing these things more than 100 times more often than their control group.
Results weren’t earthshattering, but still impressive for a hacker project. In fact, it shows just how far science of augmenting senses can reach outside clinical trials. Most drug companies avoid biohacking projects out of fear of litigation and due to potential costs that could run into millions; community labs like Genspace in Brooklyn and Dallas Makerspace play an invaluable role by taking scientific ideas out from behind gatekeeper institutions and into public hands.
Science for the Masses’ team conducted their study at an unofficial hospital or lab, which would have proved much more challenging due to insurance limitations on such an undertaking – which can run up to $6 million and require multiple stages.
2. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant that can help the body combat free radicals and repair damage, as well as increase melatonin levels within its system to biohack night vision. But biohacking night vision should not simply involve taking multivitamin supplements; rather it should involve conducting assays to identify which vitamins the body lacks before formulating solutions to address those deficiencies.
Bloomberg recently profiled Brian Johnson, a self-described god of biohacking who spends $2 Million annually to improve his health. Johnson consumes 1977 vegan calories per day and exercises regularly. He uses an alarm clock with light sensor capabilities which measures his sleep cycle and blocks blue light two hours prior to sleep time, sleeps at the same time every night using light-sensitive alarm clock, uses meditation daily, infuses his water with alkaline mineral content and takes immune-enhancing supplements.
