I don鈥檛 have any tattoos. When I was at university, most of my friends got inked. Although I regularly considered it and dabbled with designs on napkins, I was too aware of my fickle tastes, and the likely disapproval from my future self, to take the plunge.
In 2017, I started to think about body modification again. There are many more options available today. , futurist from the University of Oxford spoke about three different motivations for altering your body: existential reasons, enhancing your senses and improving your cognitive functions.
A few years ago, a colleague hacked his hearing aids to allow him to hear Wi-Fi signals. Sandberg also mentions how modifying your eyesight might allow you to see beyond the visible spectrum of light, making infrared frequencies and gamma rays visible, for example.
Advertisement
Still, most people are likely to modify their bodies for what Sandberg would refer to as existential reasons. He argues that tattoos and piercings are more than aesthetic: they are a means by which we change ourselves.
from the University of Ottawa, who gave a talk at the I attended a few months ago, is pioneering ways of achieving this change. 鈥淚鈥檓 thinking about how we can give control back to individuals to define what their body looks like by taking the next step from piercing or tattooing,鈥� he told me.
Living implants
Pelling鈥檚 work involves hacking biology. In 2016, he became famous for . Apples carved into ear shapes were stripped of their cells, leaving behind a cellulose scaffold that was then seeded with human cells. These cells thrived, suggesting a new way of growing replacement organs and body parts.
But the technique also has potential for those wanting to revamp their appearance. 鈥淎n artist could carve an artisanal body part or it could be produced by a machine from a 3D printer file,鈥� says Pelling. 鈥淚t would then be implanted in a tattoo parlour.鈥�
3D implants are already a form of body art. Objects 鈥� typically made from silicone 鈥� can be inserted under your skin to create protruding shapes, like decorative stars or beast-like horns. While Pelling鈥檚 plant-based implants are also foreign objects, they would become living parts of you.
鈥淭he neat thing is that your body actually blends into them,鈥� he says. 鈥淵our blood vessels would grow into the implants so they become part of your flesh.鈥� He has only tested his implants in mice so far, but human trials are set to begin in the coming months.
For some people, adding a living component to their body is attractive for sentimental reasons. Pelling has been approached by people who want a piece of a plant implanted under their skin. 鈥淚t could be a plant that鈥檚 been part of their family for a long time and is meaningful to them,鈥� he says. A rose petal from a wedding or a favourite flower could soon literally become a piece of you for life.
Brain boosters
Those interested in more useful modifications may pursue cognitive enhancement, for example improving their memories or reducing their need for sleep. Zapping the brain with electricity can already boost certain skills, including mathematical abilities, and the improvement may be long-lasting.
One day, gene editing could be done at home to augment other natural abilities. Biohackers recently started playing with this controversial idea to boost strength, though so far their experiments have been unsuccessful.
Ultimately, body modification may appeal most to certain personality types. Being a risk-taker would surely increase your chances of embracing these ideas. I am more tempted by experiencing new senses or gaining new abilities than getting a mere tattoo, but I鈥檓 still unsure about altering myself for life.
And I wouldn鈥檛 want to be one of the first to try it out.
Still, who knows? After a few stiff New Year鈥檚 drinks, I might build up the courage鈥�
