Bryan Johnson's new biohacking experiment is turning his bathroom breaks ‘blue'. Could it be the key to 'live forever'?
ADVERTISEMENT The 47-year-old, best known for spending over $2 million annually in a bid to reverse aging through his project Blueprint, recently posted on X (formerly Twitter), 'My urine is now blue,' adding that he had just begun a new treatment: methylene blue.
It might sound like a joke, but it's anything but. Methylene blue is a real, FDA-approved chemical compound that's been used in medicine for more than a century. And for Johnson, it's just the latest in a long line of biohacking tools he believes will help him defy death.
Methylene blue, also known as methylthioninium chloride, is a cobalt-blue dye initially developed in the 19th century to stain textiles. Later, it found a second life in medicine, treating a rare condition called methemoglobinemia—a disorder where the blood can't carry oxygen efficiently, resulting in symptoms like blue-tinged skin, shortness of breath, and even seizures. According to the FDA, methylene blue is useful for treating specific types of blood disorders, cyanide poisoning, and certain neurological conditions. But in the wellness and biohacking world, it has recently been hyped for its mitochondrial-boosting properties.
Biohackers claim it can supercharge the tiny engines inside your cells, potentially leading to more energy, better memory, and even anti-aging effects. Johnson isn't alone; a growing number of health influencers have touted its benefits—though scientific consensus is still pending.
ADVERTISEMENT When asked by a user why he'd take a synthetic, petroleum-based dye, Johnson joked: 'Was really moved by the Smurfs movie.' If drinking methylene blue seems extreme, it's only a sliver of Johnson's full lifestyle. The founder of Kernel, who once made headlines for injecting himself with his 17-year-old son's plasma, is infamous for his ultra-strict diet, exercise regimen, and reliance on experimental therapies.
ADVERTISEMENT His biological metrics, he claims, prove it's working: a heart comparable to a 37-year-old's, lung capacity like an 18-year-old's, and in one test, the skin elasticity of a 10-year-old. Now, with this latest methylene blue experiment, Johnson says he feels 'like I'm in Avatar.' Despite the hype, methylene blue is not risk-free. The FDA warns of dangerous reactions when combined with psychiatric medications, particularly due to a potentially life-threatening condition called Serotonin Syndrome.
ADVERTISEMENT According to a report by StatPearls Publishing, people with G6PD deficiency—an enzyme disorder—should never take it, as it can cause severe blood issues. It's also not safe for pregnant women, people with kidney problems, or anyone who's had an allergic reaction to it in the past. As such, experts urge caution. While some studies suggest potential benefits, Harvard Health Publishing notes that more research is needed before methylene blue becomes a mainstream wellness treatment.
ADVERTISEMENT Johnson's blue urine isn't the only cutting-edge experiment he's trying. Just days before announcing his methylene blue regimen, he started a new therapy called IHHT—Intermittent Hypoxia-Hyperoxia Training—a technique that mimics altitude shifts by alternating oxygen levels through a mask. The science behind IHHT, according to Vitology, suggests it may enhance energy production, cognitive performance, heart health, and even slow the aging process. It's non-invasive and gaining traction in longevity clinics worldwide. But like most things in Johnson's protocol, it's still experimental. As promising as some of these interventions seem, they lack long-term data and broad clinical endorsement.
Whether it's by injecting youthful plasma or peeing blue, Bryan Johnson continues to push the boundaries of what's possible—or permissible—in the name of never growing old. While his methods may seem eccentric or extreme, they force a larger conversation: how far are we willing to go to outsmart time?
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