There are a growing number of people in the world who, in order to improve themselves, go beyond meditation or exercise. These brave pioneers are trying to improve their bodies with bacteria, special diets - and even electric shock.
Biohackers are enthusiasts for amateur research in molecular biology. In their activities, they adhere to hacker principles in relation to modern biological research, believing that "innovations in biology should be easily accessible, inexpensive and open to everyone." Biohackers set their goal as confirmation of their own original ideas, and simply getting pleasure from work.
Biohackers' activities can raise concerns. It is assumed that the uncontrolled use of biotechnology may lead to the accidental or even deliberate creation of new types of biological weapons. However, there is an opinion about the usefulness and prospects of amateur biotechnological research. Analogies are drawn with the "garage" IT-technologies of the 70s, on the basis of which the multi-billion dollar IT corporations were formed.
Improving body odor
Scientists have developed probiotics that change the odors produced by the bacteria living in our gut to be more pleasant.
People themselves do not smell - these are bacteria, absorbing our sweat and the contents of our mouths and stomachs, causing corresponding odors with their secretions.
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Avoiding meat and drinking enough water can suppress some fetid strains - but a more drastic measure is to create genetically modified bacteria that colonize the intestines.
Following the instructions of specialized genes, bacteria will produce pleasant-smelling compounds to mask the odors of their fellows. “Life is code and everything is editable,” says Austin Heinz, CEO of Cambrian Genomics, which makes Personalized Probiotics with matching bacteria strains.
Improving vision
Jeffrey Tibbets teamed up with a group of scientific colleagues to develop a diet to enhance human vision. This diet removes vitamin A1 from all body fluids.
Thus, the light-sensitive whites of the eyes are forced to assimilate vitamin A2, which leads to an increase in visual acuity and to a shift in the visible spectrum.
After several weeks, dieters claimed to see near infrared light, which Tibbets interpreted as enhanced color perception. But, most likely, such a diet can cause a fatal vitamin A deficiency.
Better thinking
Research shows that some of the electricity flowing through the scalp can relieve pain, increase focus, and even eliminate certain nervous disorders of the motor system. Scientists are still testing the capabilities of transcranial current stimulation (TSC).
These studies involve professional testers and use expensive samples of medical equipment. Meanwhile, there are brave hobbyists who are trying to develop their own TCK devices on 9-volt batteries.
These devices are not at all the same as those used in hospitals and laboratories, warns biotech engineer Marom Bixon. Bixon reports that his acquaintance was temporarily blind after one of these experiments.
WARNING: Attempts to make extreme modifications to your own body can have serious side effects. Until we have learned how to design and create new organs, it is worth taking care of the ones you already have.