Emerging Technologies
Biohacking
Definition
Biohacking is a broad term that can cover a wide spectrum of activities, from performing science experiments on yeast or other organisms to tracking your own sleep and diet to changing your own biology by pumping a younger person's blood into your veins in the hope that it'll fight aging.
Why It Matters
Biohacking represents a "do-it-yourself" approach to biology and self-improvement. It ranges from benign self-experimentation to more extreme and controversial body modifications, pushing the boundaries of what it means to be human.
Contextual Example
A biohacker might use a continuous glucose monitor to track how different foods affect their blood sugar, or implant an NFC chip in their hand to unlock their front door.
Common Misunderstandings
- The term is very broad and can have different meanings to different people.
- More extreme forms of biohacking, like "grinding" (body modification with implants), are a subculture and raise safety and ethical questions.