So... I found a small german site dedicated to biohacking, and on this they had a method of doing easy, diy tattoos that used living microalgae (the good kind of course?) As the ink.
Why is this so exciting to me?
Because there is already research that proves that;
- its safe, even in quantity (more on that later)
- the research in question states it can live off of our blood without invading the body, and supply oxygen to the bloodstream safely.
- presumably as the microalgae reached the end of its lifecycle, it will have reproduced enough of itself to replace it, and the dead algae will be safely absorbed as free nutrients to the body (B vitamins, minerals, protein etc)
- its diy, and thus open source, so anyone can do it.
Before bringing up the site in question i promised research didnt i? Here it is;
The first is a human trial on full thickness skin wounds getting a living microalgae scaffold covering in place of an ordinary skin graft, showing that not only were there no adverse effects, but they healed better and their skin grew into the scaffold and lived among the algae in a mutual symbiosis.
The second is unfortunately just an abstract about treating rats with diabetes and chronic wounds being treated with similar gel patches full of algae to supply oxygen to the extremities of the rats and to support accelerated wound healing.
Skin grafts? Rats with diabetes? What am i getting at?
The algae was still alive, inside the patient's skin, proven time and time again not to cause rejection of any kind, and as its still alive, it was supplying oxygen to the body while living off the blood, and more to the point... Photosynthesizing.
Microalgae produce the majority of oxygen on earth and by some estimates are 400 times better at producing oxygen than trees by weight. Now imagine having that kind of oxygenation built directly into your skin. You'd become resistant to air pollution, maybe evenacting to remediate your personal carbon footprint (i know its corporations who need to be doing that but thats a different discussion) and you would become resistant to suffering low blood oxygen levels because you'd be breathing through your skin as well. Then theres the dead microalgae, as it dies your body will just absorb it, nutrient and all (see figure 3) replaced by fresh cells, a permanent, green, living tattoo that protects your body and potentially makes cardio a little easier (oxygenated limbs at the source means less huffing and puffing, no?)
Ive kept you waiting long enough, what am i actually talking about?
Here it is;
Most of whats in this link is theoreticals about this being a more common practice, but it also contains a demonstration video on how to build and use a special yet highly simple diy tattoo gun made with the sole purpose of tattooing the algae into your skin, along with a demonstration of how it looked at first, and how it looked later.
I want this, ive wanted this since i found the skin graft trial. Look im diabetic but im constantly paying attention to scientific news and innovation to give myself an edge in not only comtrolling it, but beating it, and this offers a way to control the symptoms, but also potentially turn the tide. (There are lots of studies about microalgae helping weight loss, reduction of triglycerides, bad cholesterol and even improving insulin sensitivity which is the cause of type 2 diabetes)
This is a future i want to actualize, this is what i feel biohacking should be. Cosmetic changes are cool, gender affirming transition techniques are a form of biohacking that tangibly helps the user though and i think we need more of it. This is the more. Green tattoos, that are alive, and supply you with extra oxygen.
EDIT: the bacteria used in the tattoo video would have a higher upkeep and net loss than is worthwhile. I have pivoted to spirulina due to its high oxygen production and very low oxygen consumption in total darkness. credit to @vaporware for raising the question