Bryan Johnson

I Tried Psilocybin for Science (Livestream Highlights)

In this highly quantified experiment, longevity enthusiast Bryan Johnson explores whether psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, can function as a therapy to slow or reverse biological aging. This session marks the second of three planned doses in a protocol designed to measure the substance's impact on 249 different biomarkers. Johnson, joined by a team of experts and his son, Talmage, approaches the experience not as a recreational trip, but as a rigorous scientific inquiry into the "speed of aging" and the potential for cellular rejuvenation. The experiment begins with a baseline measurement phase. Ryan Fields, the founder of Kernel, explains the use of a specialized device described as a "pulse oximeter on steroids." This technology maps brain activity by measuring oxygen levels, allowing the team to observe brain health and drug interactions in real-time. Before ingesting a "heroic dose" of 5.32 grams of mushrooms, Johnson expresses significant nerves. He notes that during his previous experience, his mental inhibitions were "washed away," removing the usual cognitive checks that prevent a person from saying or thinking inappropriate things. Despite this trepidation, he proceeds, consuming the dose in a lemon-infused mixture to aid ingestion.