Biohacking may be the future, but not a lot of people know about it. For the advocates of this trend, it is anything that could boost your weight loss effort or help you hack your brain. American billionaire Bryan Johnson is currently the most popular biohacker, who, from time to time, comes up with ways to boost longevity. Notably, while the biological alterations he does are something that requires clinical assistance, some undertakings are relatively safe to perform at home.

What Is Biohacking?

Biohacking is a do-it-yourself (DIY) form of personal improvement in which people attempt to change aspects of their biology to improve their health, performance or well-being. It is not a specific term or undertaking. Rather, a currently popular anecdotal umbrella term for broad, nonspecific activities. There are many ways to biohack:

Fasting

People have engaged in fasts for millennia. It is not only believed to accelerate your weight loss process but also helps you get rid of toxins in your body.

Nootropics

Another popular form of biohacking is using a group of substances called nootropics or "smart drugs". Non-prescription nootropics include tablets, supplements, drinks, and foods. They contain substances that manufacturers claim to help boost brain performance.

Prescription Drugs And Risks

Prescription nootropics (drugs) are medications that have stimulant effects, which doctors prescribe for medical conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A person should only ever take prescription medications as directed by their doctor. Prescription stimulants have several potential side effects and may be dangerous if people misuse them.

Research shows people who take prescription stimulants for medical reasons are at high risk of many diseases such as anxiety, other drug use, post-traumatic stress disorder and impaired academic performance.

Wearable Technology

Wearable tech, such as smartwatches, head-mounted displays, and fitness-tracking bands, is a common form of modern technology. People may use them to:

1. track aspects of their health and use the data to make improvements
2. reach fitness and health goals
3. track reproductive health cycles

3 Primary Types Of Biohacking

DIY biohacking, which some people also call garage biology, involves experts in scientific fields sharing biohacking techniques and information with people who are not experts. This allows more people to conduct experiments on themselves outside of a constrained environment. Examples of these include some people who consider DIY biology to be an open revolution against the academic institutionalization of science and aim to spread an attitude of citizen science and action research without rigid gatekeeping.

Nutrigenomics

It is another type of biohacking that explores how food interacts with people's genes and how a person's genes affect their body's response to food. Researchers are using nutrigenomics to learn more about diet and genes, how they may affect a person’s health risks, and to help find new ways to prevent and treat disease. In this case, a person can send samples to labs where they are tested

Grinders

Grinders are biohackers who consider themselves pioneers of human augmentation. Example: Bryan Johnson. This type of biohacking typically involves devices implanted under the skin and the use of technology to perform body modifications.

The unpalatable, gooey and much-hated substance we often rush to clean out of our ears is gaining unexpected scientific attention. Earwax—also known as cerumen—has long been considered an annoying by-product of the body. While its primary purpose remains debated, researchers now agree that earwax plays a vital role in protecting our ears and, intriguingly, may hold the key to unlocking critical insights into our health.

Functionally, earwax acts as a natural barrier. It traps bacteria, fungi, dirt, and other particles before they can enter and infect the inner ear. It also provides lubrication, preventing the skin inside the ear canal from becoming dry or itchy. Yet, due to its unappealing look and lack of immediate clinical relevance, earwax has been largely ignored in scientific research—until recently.

Women With Wet Earwax Have Higher Chances Of Breast Cancer

A growing body of evidence suggests that earwax may be far more informative than previously believed. In 2014, a study published in Springer highlighted a fascinating genetic dimension to earwax. The study revealed that most people of European or African descent have "wet" earwax—sticky and yellow or orange in colour. Meanwhile, 95% of East Asians have "dry" earwax—gray and crumbly. The difference is determined by a gene called ABCC11, which also influences underarm odour. In fact, about 2% of the global population, mostly individuals with dry earwax, carry a variant of this gene that causes their armpits to be odorless.

Beyond genetics, earwax has started to emerge as a diagnostic tool. Researchers are using modern analytical techniques to examine the chemical and biological compounds in earwax, searching for indicators of disease. For example, a pioneering study in 1971 by Dr. Nicholas L. Petrakis at the University of California, San Francisco, observed that Caucasian, African-American, and German women in the U.S. with wet earwax had nearly four times the risk of breast cancer compared to Japanese or Taiwanese women with dry earwax.

Building on this, a 2010 study by the Tokyo Institute of Technology examined blood samples from 270 Japanese women with invasive breast cancer and compared them to 273 healthy controls. They found a strong correlation between the presence of the wet earwax gene and the incidence of breast cancer. Women with the gene were up to 77% more likely to develop the disease, suggesting a genetic link that could help in early risk assessment.

Earwax May Also Contain Traces Of COVID-19

Recent studies are also exploring whether earwax can contain traces of COVID-19 and help differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Some early research even hints that biomarkers in earwax could aid in identifying certain heart diseases, although these findings are still in preliminary stages, and blood tests remain the gold standard for diagnosis.

Another promising area involves Meniere’s disease, a chronic condition that causes episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Researchers are investigating whether compounds in earwax can help track this inner ear disorder more reliably and less invasively than current methods.

Modifiable risk factors such as quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and eating a balanced diet can certainly help protect your heart. However, when it comes to heart disease, the role of family history also deserves serious attention. In other words, are cardiovascular heart diseases (CHD) hereditary? And if so, what can be done to lower your risk?

Genetics account for up to half of a person's risk for cardiovascular disease. While it is only one among many contributing factors, it can be a significant—and often early—clue to a person’s potential for heart-related issues. Having close relatives like a parent or sibling with heart disease can increase the chances of developing a heart condition. Shared environmental factors within families, such as dietary habits and levels of physical activity, also influence heart health.

Learning about family history can empower individuals to take charge of their healthcare. This knowledge allows potential health concerns to be identified before a serious event occurs and helps prevent disease progression. Identifying a genetic diagnosis within the family enables both patients and healthcare providers to stay current on recommended screenings and treatments.

Heart Diseases Are Often A Mix Of Genes And Environment

Heart disease is often a combination of genetic and environmental influences. In certain cases, a gene may be passed down from one or both parents. If a parent carries a specific heart disease gene, there is a 50 per cent chance it could be inherited. Thus, parents can offer insight into potential future risks from a genetic standpoint.

Knowing family history helps clinicians assess whether a patient is at higher-than-average risk. It’s not just about anticipating what might happen—screenings and treatments based on genetic risk can offer more proactive management.

Certain Heart Diseases Can Be Inherited

Several types of heart conditions can be inherited. These include coronary heart disease (blockages in arteries supplying the heart), congenital heart disease (a defect present at birth), cardiomyopathy (abnormal heart function without obvious cause), high cholesterol (which raises plaque risk), arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms), and dilated aorta (an enlarged major blood vessel).

Although family history cannot be changed, modifiable risk factors can still be addressed. High cholesterol or blood pressure often shows up in families around the same age, but making lifestyle changes early can help. A low-fat, low-cholesterol, and low-sugar diet, along with at least 30 minutes of exercise five days a week, can help mitigate risk. Working with a cardiologist can help determine whether lifestyle changes or early medication are needed.

Collecting family history includes asking relatives about medications, diagnoses of high cholesterol or blood pressure, cardiac conditions, sudden or unexplained deaths, use of pacemakers or defibrillators, and whether anyone sees a cardiologist or has had heart surgery.

After gathering this information, a physician can recommend genetic testing if necessary. Certain patterns, like multiple relatives with early heart attacks or high cholesterol, may point to inherited conditions such as familial hypercholesterolemia. Even in the absence of family history, conditions like aortopathy may qualify someone for genetic testing.

Genetic testing typically starts with a three-generation family history and involves either a saliva or blood sample. Results may be positive, negative, or uncertain. Even a negative result doesn’t rule out a hereditary component, so follow-ups and testing for other family members may still be recommended.

Moreover, positive results may lead to cascade testing—where relatives are tested for the same condition—and can influence treatment strategies. Precision medicine and gene therapy now offer the possibility of correcting genetic defects at a molecular level, offering new hope for those at risk.

A recent study found that we scroll a distance which is equivalent to four times the height of Mount Everest in a year. Intrestingly, it stated that an average person's newsfeed in terms of scroll length can be the same as the Statue of Liberty in a day, two Eiffel Towers in a week and three Burj Khalifas in a month. But where is all this doom-scrolling taking us?

If neurologists and brain scientists are to be believed, then all these hours we spend mindlessly with our phones have only resulted in brain rot. If you ever want to witness the last vestiges of human intellect swirling down the drain, you just open your phone and type the words "skibidi toilet". The video, which will emerge, features an animated human head protruding from a toilet bowl while singing the nonsensical lyrics "skibidi dop dop dop yes yes". The 11-second clip has been viewed more than 215 million times, directly highlighting the intensity of brain rot.

Not so surprisingly, Brain Rot is the Oxford word of the year 2024. The dictionary defines it as "the supposed deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging".

Technology Is Causing Brain Rot And We Know It

Beyond the obvious, there are still several people who are aware of how literally technology is rotting our brains, and how decisively compulsive internet use is destroying our grey matter. For the uninitiated, grey matter is the region with high concentration of neurons in the brain and spinal cord.

The concept was portended almost 20 years ago when scientists studied the effects of the then-new invention called "email". They wanted to fathom the impact of a barrage of information on the brain. After conducting multiple studies, they concluded that constant cognitive overload had a more negative effect than taking cannabis, with IQS of participants in a study dropping an average of 10 points. And imagine this was before the internet brought the world to our fingertips.

How To Stop Doomscrolling?

This is not about completely avoiding screens (because let’s be real, that's practically impossible). But we can help kids and teens reduce their reliance on technology and recalibrate their brains. Here are a few tips:

• Lead by example: The most effective way to change behaviour is to model it. Parents who set their own boundaries around screen time and engage in offline activities will set a positive example for their children.
• Set digital boundaries: Start by setting limits on screen time, whether it's through built-in screen-time trackers or apps that help monitor usage. Encourage regular breaks and give time for the mind to relax and recharge.
• Tech-free hours: One of the best ways to reset is by establishing tech-free zones, like at mealtimes or right before bed. These are opportunities to engage in meaningful, face-to-face conversations. As tempting as it may be to scroll late at night, it’s important to keep phones out of reach during sleeping hours—screens can disrupt sleep patterns and negatively impact health.
• The 80/20 rule: Aim for 80% of screen time to be dedicated to educational, enriching or creative content. The other 20% can be reserved for lighter, more entertaining content.
• Rediscover hobbies and offline activities: Encourage kids to get involved in hobbies and activities that don’t involve screens. Whether it’s taking a walk in nature, playing a sport, crafting, reading a book or learning a musical instrument, these offline experiences help foster curiosity and creativity—qualities that doomscrolling tends to suppress.