Body work: Russia’s ‘biohackers’ push boundaries

Smartphones
Wednesday, 19 Feb 2020
9:00 AM MYT

Related News

Arts 23 Jul 2025

Malaysian former scientist turned artist finds balance between art and science

Nation 03 Jul 2025

USM prof wins Unesco award for contributions to ocean science

AI 01 Jul 2025

How do you teach computer science in the AI era?

Skakun, 36, has his blood taken for analysis at a private clinic in Moscow. Some add chips to their hands to open doors or start cars, others hope to live longer through intensive monitoring of their bodies. They are biohackers, people who seek to 'upgrade' their bodies with experimental technology and DIY health fixes. In Russia, the movement is spreading, with social media forums, conferences and businesses springing up to cater to their needs. — Photos: AFP

MOSCOW: Gripping a scalpel, Vladislav Zaitsev makes an incision in the fold of skin between his client's thumb and index finger and pushes in a small glass cylinder.

Alexei Rautkin, a 24-year-old programmer in a hoodie, is having a chip inserted in his hand so he can open the door to his office without swiping a card.

Skakun, 36, has his blood taken for analysis at a private clinic in Moscow. Some add chips to their hands to open doors or start cars, others hope to live longer through intensive monitoring of their bodies. They are biohackers, people who seek to 'upgrade' their bodies with experimental technology and DIY health fixes. In Russia, the movement is spreading, with social media forums, conferences and businesses springing up to cater to their needs. — Photos: AFP

Skakun, 36, has his blood taken for analysis at a private clinic in Moscow. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov exercises on a treadmill wearing a facemask to analyse the gases in his breath at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov exercises on a treadmill at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov exercises on a treadmill wearing a facemask to analyse the gases in his breath at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Programmer Alexei Rautkin, 24, who has chip inserted in his hand so he can open the door to his office without swiping a card, poses at his workplace in Moscow. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov exercises on a treadmill wearing a facemask to analyse the gases in his breath at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Programmer Vladislav Zaitsev, 28, shows his chipped hand while posing for pictures in Moscow. — AFP

A view of chips at programmer Vladislav Zaitsev's studio flat in Moscow. — AFP

Entrepreneur Stanislav Skakun, 36, has his blood taken for analysis at a private clinic in Moscow. — AFP

Programmer Alexei Rautkin, 24, uses his chipped hand to open a door at his e-commerce company in Moscow. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov poses in a bathrobe after standing in a chamber chilled by liquid nitrogen to minus 120 degrees Celsius following exercising on a treadmill at a gym that calls itself a "biohacking laboratory" on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Entrepreneur Stanislav Skakun, 36, has his blood taken for analysis at a private clinic in Moscow. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov exercises on a treadmill wearing a facemask to analyse the gases in his breath at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Entrepreneur Stanislav Skakun, 36, has his blood taken for analysis at a private clinic in Moscow. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov stands in a chamber chilled by liquid nitrogen to minus 120 degrees Celsius after exercising on a treadmill at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

An aerial view of Moscow from inside a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Tags / Keywords: biohacker

Topic:

Science & Technology Smartphones Smart home

Is this article useful?

Report a mistake

What is the issue about?

Spelling and grammatical error

Factually incorrect

Story is irrelevant

Email (optional)

Thank you for your report!

Next In Tech News

Intel to separate networking unit as new CEO Tan overhauls business

Tesla gets multiple shareholder proposals related to investment in xAI

Spear AI raises first round of funding to apply AI to submarine data

US closes probe into Waymo self-driving collisions, unexpected behavior

Telefonica in exclusive talks to sell its Mexican unit to Beyond ONE, sources say

Google partners with Italy's Energy Dome on zero-emission power supply

Tesla to roll out Bay Area robotaxis with safety drivers, report says

Meta to halt political advertising in EU from October, blames EU rules

Dutch watchdog postpones ruling on Apple fees on dating apps, awaits EU action

Intel slumps as potential foundry exit deepens investor gloom

Others Also Read

Food for thought7h ago

Curious Cook: The magic of durian

Insight7h ago

A beacon of light in Malaysia’s healthcare

starplus23 Jul 2025

INTERACTIVE: Fake or fact? Only three in 10 Malaysians verify info online

Entertainment8h ago

HK actress Myolie Wu dispels rumours with family vacation in the Maldives

STARPICKS

Allianz and p-hailing platforms unite for rider safety

Badminton9h ago

Stern China test awaits Pearly-Thinaah in semi-finals

Nation9h ago

Over 200 animal lovers hold candlelight vigil for 30 dogs put to sleep in Lahat

AseanPlus News9h ago

It's Wani Kayrie - the singer with a golden heart and also the new rocking star in Malaysian music

Philippines9h ago

Some 280,000 people homeless as more weather chaos hits Philippines

Nation9h ago

Tun Ramli pledges to engage directly with the people of Penang, not just as a state symbol

Thailand10h ago

Thailand warns of war with Cambodia as 138,000 flee fighting

Badminton10h ago

Aaron-Wooi Yik set up last-four clash with tricky Indian pair

StarPicks

Allianz and p-hailing platforms unite for rider safety

ONE of Malaysia's leading protection solutions company – Allianz Malaysia Berhad (Allianz Malaysia), has partnered with the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and leading p-hailing platforms – foodpanda Malaysia, Lalamove Malaysia and Grab Malaysia – to emphasise the importance of rider safety in Malaysia's rapidly expanding industry.

Symbol	Open	High	Low	Last	Chg	%Chg	Vol ('00)
HSI-PWHI	0.195	0.210	0.195	0.205	0.015	7.89	1,936,176
HSI-CWGX	0.250	0.250	0.230	0.230	-0.035	-13.21	1,730,445
HSI-CWGI	0.170	0.170	0.155	0.155	-0.030	-16.22	1,700,156
HSI-PWHV	0.180	0.200	0.175	0.185	0.010	5.71	1,400,245
HSI-CWGS	0.140	0.140	0.120	0.120	-0.025	-17.24	1,397,471
NEXG	0.515	0.530	0.515	0.525	0.010	1.94	996,383
FOCUS	0.010	0.010	0.005	0.010	0.000	0.00	868,755
ZETRIX	0.915	0.920	0.905	0.910	-0.005	-0.55	607,583
HSI-PWJF	0.140	0.150	0.140	0.145	0.005	3.57	490,787
TANCO	0.915	0.920	0.910	0.915	0.000	0.00	462,506
VELESTO	0.185	0.190	0.185	0.185	0.005	2.78	455,496
LCTITAN	0.700	0.730	0.675	0.695	-0.010	-1.42	381,126
ZETRIX-C9K	0.070	0.070	0.070	0.070	-0.080	-53.33	271,087
PHARMA	0.220	0.225	0.215	0.220	0.000	0.00	202,221
TENAGA	13.860	13.920	13.420	13.600	-0.340	-2.44	195,902

Body work: Russia’s ‘biohackers’ push boundaries

Related News

Subscribe now and get 30% off The Star Yearly Plan

Monthly Plan

Annual Plan

Skakun, 36, has his blood taken for analysis at a private clinic in Moscow. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov exercises on a treadmill wearing a facemask to analyse the gases in his breath at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov exercises on a treadmill at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov exercises on a treadmill wearing a facemask to analyse the gases in his breath at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Programmer Alexei Rautkin, 24, who has chip inserted in his hand so he can open the door to his office without swiping a card, poses at his workplace in Moscow. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov exercises on a treadmill wearing a facemask to analyse the gases in his breath at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Programmer Vladislav Zaitsev, 28, shows his chipped hand while posing for pictures in Moscow. — AFP

A view of chips at programmer Vladislav Zaitsev's studio flat in Moscow. — AFP

Entrepreneur Stanislav Skakun, 36, has his blood taken for analysis at a private clinic in Moscow. — AFP

Programmer Alexei Rautkin, 24, uses his chipped hand to open a door at his e-commerce company in Moscow. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov poses in a bathrobe after standing in a chamber chilled by liquid nitrogen to minus 120 degrees Celsius following exercising on a treadmill at a gym that calls itself a "biohacking laboratory" on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Entrepreneur Stanislav Skakun, 36, has his blood taken for analysis at a private clinic in Moscow. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov exercises on a treadmill wearing a facemask to analyse the gases in his breath at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Entrepreneur Stanislav Skakun, 36, has his blood taken for analysis at a private clinic in Moscow. — AFP

Igor Korabelnikov stands in a chamber chilled by liquid nitrogen to minus 120 degrees Celsius after exercising on a treadmill at a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

An aerial view of Moscow from inside a gym that calls itself a 'biohacking laboratory' on the 58th floor of a skyscraper in the Moscow business district. — AFP

Related News

Next In Tech News

Others Also Read

Trending in Tech

Market Summary

FBM KLCI

28,594,272

Want to listen to full audio?

Majlis SIRIM Industri 2024

Thank you for downloading.