Biohacking, also known as human enhancement, is the newest wellness obsession. So what even is it? You may have heard of hacking into a computer or emails – but what about the human body? In simplistic terms, biohacking is a form of do-it-yourself-biology that allows you to upgrade your brain and body to become more efficient.
You may be surprised to know that despite its intimidating moniker, methods of Biohacking have been around for centuries in the form of natural remedies such as intermittent fasting and meditation. More modern forms of biohacking can include anything from wearing a smartwatch – which gives you health reminders to walk more and take a rest – and apps that tell you when to drink water, to the more controversial and unregulated genetic engineering.
So, why on earth would anyone want to hack their own bodies? The answer is simpler than we may think – Biohacking can allow us to do things such as improve our sleep, health and cognitive awareness. An example of this may be our plight to cling onto our youth, in what feels like a high speed chase against ageing. Pharrell is the media-crowned champion of biohacking, having successfully tricked us into believing that he hasn’t actually aged since turning 25. His radiant youth may be a result of lucky genetics, yes – but natural biohacking methods such as diet augmentation and exercise methods likely play a big part in his ageless exterior.
Some people however, are taking a more drastic route. Lepht Anonym describes themself as “a faceless, genderless British Biohacker” and has inserted over 50 DIY chips and magnets into their body. The chips allow them to perform a whole range of humanity-defying tasks such as the ability to share wifi, upload and download data and even power up electronic devices from inside themselves.
Whilst biohacking may have many beneficial results for our health, many worry that it might be going too far. With the question remaining as to whether human-enhancement is a sign of the future or a potentially dangerous fad, the line between natural health Biohacking and invasive genetic Biohacking becomes thinner.
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