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For humans, death is an experience that is both unwelcome and unavoidable. No matter what we do, everyone ultimately meets their end. Interestingly, more people have passed away throughout history than the number of those alive today. Yet, while this is a harsh truth, not everyone shares the same outlook.
Some individuals have become convinced that, in some way, at some time, they can escape death permanently. Over the centuries, countless people have explored methods to gain immortality—whether through strange elixirs or scientific innovations. Here are ten such individuals and their bizarre attempts to live forever.
10. Sima Pi
It is well-documented that ancient Chinese emperors often harbored a deep desire to achieve immortality. Fearing untimely death and the collapse of their dynasties, these rulers risked everything in pursuit of eternal life. A prime example is the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, who believed that a mercury-based elixir held the secret to immortality and drank it regularly. However, he was not alone in this pursuit, as other emperors took even more extreme measures—often to their detriment.
In AD 361, Emperor Mu of the Eastern Jin dynasty passed away without an heir, leading to his cousin Sima Pi ascending to the throne under the title of Emperor Ai. A devoted follower of Daoist philosophy, one of the world's oldest spiritual teachings, Sima Pi became fixated on the notion of immortality. He commissioned magicians to concoct a chemical formula that would grant him eternal life. In 364, the magicians presented him with the 'pill of immortality,' which the emperor eagerly consumed.
After ingesting the pill, Emperor Ai fell gravely ill, and after only three years of ruling, he was forced to abdicate. In a tragic irony, Sima Pi died in 365 at just 24 years old, his obsession with immortality claiming his life before its time. With no heirs to succeed him, his brother Sima Yi took over as the new emperor of the Jin dynasty.
9. Shojin
Shingon is a mystical school of Buddhism that was introduced in Japan in the ninth century. Its founder, Kobo Daishi, a prominent religious figure who passed away in 835, is said by his followers to have never truly died. Instead, they believe that in his final years, he entered a profound state of meditation from which he continues to await the arrival of the next Buddha. Kobo Daishi’s legacy inspired sokushinbutsu, the ancient practice of self-mummification aimed at attaining immortality.
Two centuries after Kobo Daishi, a man named Shojin sought to replicate the revered master’s path to eternal meditation. As he aged, Shojin decided the time had come to embark on the painful and long process of self-mummification. Over the course of 1,000 days, the monk engaged solely in meditation or consumed only the most basic of sustenance from trees—roots and bark—intended to strip away all body fat.
Following this, Shojin drank a special, poisonous tea for another 1,000 days. The tea not only repelled parasites but also accelerated his body’s mummification while he was still alive. Upon completing the ritual in 1081, Shojin, then 71, sensed his end was near. He buried himself alive to finalize the sokushinbutsu. However, when his disciples later unearthed him, they found his body decaying. Tradition holds that this signified the failure of the process, meaning Shojin never achieved the meditative state. The monk’s body was likely subjected to an exorcism before being reburied.
8. Unidentified Russian Men
In the early 20th century, when radiation's effects were not fully understood, many believed that radioactive substances could enhance health. This belief eventually found its way into popular culture, with comics depicting superheroes who gained their powers through radiation exposure. To this day, some still believe that radioactive waste can provide immortality. It's even suggested that some individuals in this story were inspired by Marvel Comics to act on this belief.
In March 2013, Moscow police arrested a university professor for hoarding significant amounts of radioactive materials in his home. The professor’s confession shocked authorities. It turned out that a friend of his believed radiation could make him immortal. To pursue this, the man visited Chernobyl to expose himself to the radiation from the infamous nuclear disaster. Later, he sought the professor’s help to acquire radioactive waste to continue his quest for immortality.
The professor successfully stored 14 kilograms (31 lb) of radioactive material in his home, including a radon battery and contaminated soil. According to his own account, he used the material to expose his friend to radiation. Charged with the illegal handling of nuclear materials, the professor could have faced up to seven years in prison. While the authorities did not release any personal details about the individuals involved, this case serves as a reminder that many more unknown individuals around the world might be attempting similarly outrageous actions in the pursuit of eternal life.
7. Emperor Wenxuan
Another Chinese emperor in search of extreme longevity was Emperor Wenxuan. Unlike Emperor Ai, who recklessly pursued immortality, Wenxuan was more cautious and opted not to gamble with his life. After proving his military prowess, Wenxuan ascended to the throne in AD 550, becoming the first emperor of the Northern Qi dynasty. His reign was marked by instability and contradictions: on one hand, he was a vegetarian and championed laws to free animals; on the other hand, he was a violent, bloodthirsty ruler who indulged in alcohol and cruelty. Among his more notorious acts were dismembering people and ordering the execution of children.
The greatest irony of Wenxuan’s life was his adherence to Buddhist teachings, a philosophy rooted in compassion. Despite this, Wenxuan’s desire for immortality was unrelenting. At one point, he put a group of men who claimed to be 'immortals' to the test. He challenged them to climb a high cliff, leap off, and soar through the air as legendary immortals. As expected, all of them met their end by crashing to the ground.
On one occasion, Wenxuan ordered his advisors to prepare gold cinnabar, an alchemical elixir thought to grant immortality. Once the elixir was ready, it was delivered to the emperor and kept in a jade box. However, Wenxuan, too fond of earthly pleasures to risk death and ascend to Heaven prematurely, chose to keep the elixir safe for a time when he would be on the brink of death.
6. James Schafer
James Schafer was the leader of a religious cult he founded in the 1920s. The cult combined various religious philosophies and attracted many wealthy followers. With their support, Schafer accumulated a fortune and purchased a massive 110-room mansion on Long Island, naming it 'Peace Haven.' The mansion became a sanctuary for his most devoted followers. Among his many eccentric teachings, Schafer claimed he had the ability to dematerialize objects and that diseases were caused by 'destructive thoughts.' It is this latter belief that earned him a place on this list.
In 1939, Schafer’s cult brought a baby girl, Jean Gauntt, to Peace Haven. She was not legally adopted; her impoverished parents entrusted her to the cult due to their inability to care for her. Schafer's plan was to raise Jean to achieve immortality. As she grew, he intended for her to eventually take control of the cult. To grant her immortality, Jean was meticulously watched, kept away from 'destructive' activities, and taught metaphysics while adhering to a strict vegetarian diet. No negative thoughts were allowed around her. As she matured, she would also learn about death, but under the belief that it could be avoided.
Unfortunately for Schafer, his vision of raising an immortal girl was short-lived. By 1940, the cult was running low on funds. Schafer decided to return Jean to her parents, but not before imparting his immortality teachings to them as well. However, her parents rejected his advice outright. Schafer was later convicted of fraud and sentenced to five years in prison in 1942. In 1955, he took his own life, committing suicide.
5. Pope Innocent VIII
In an effort to preserve youth, some people resort to treatments where they inject their own blood into their faces. However, not many go so far as to consume the blood of younger individuals in hopes of gaining their vitality. Yet, this was precisely the case for one historical figure.
Giovanni Battista Cibo, who rose to the height of his ecclesiastical career when he became pope in 1484, was embroiled in controversy from the very start. Known as Pope Innocent VIII, he had at least two illegitimate children, was elected under questionable circumstances, and faced widespread criticism for corruption during his papacy.
After just eight years in power, Pope Innocent VIII began to fall seriously ill and was not prepared to face death. Desperate for a cure, he turned to his physicians, who devised a plan. They brought three boys before the pope, and in exchange for a ducat (a gold coin), the boys agreed to donate their blood to the pope in hopes of restoring his vitality.
In an attempt to rejuvenate himself, Pope Innocent VIII underwent a blood transfusion, where his physicians gradually drained the blood from three boys. Tragically, the procedure went awry, and all four—Innocent VIII and the boys—died before the transfusion could be completed. Just before his passing, Innocent VIII asked his cardinals to choose a more capable successor, one who would hopefully not resort to draining the blood of children in a desperate attempt for immortality.
4. FM-2030
Cryonics is a scientific method that involves freezing a person’s body at extremely low temperatures with the aim of preserving it for decades or even centuries. The hope is that, in the future, advancements in science will allow for the revival of these preserved individuals. The process involves filling the body with chemicals that prevent ice from forming, thus keeping all organs—including the brain—intact. This process, known as vitrification, ensures that the body remains undamaged by the formation of ice crystals.
Fereidoun M. Esfandiary, later known as FM-2030, was a visionary born in Belgium in 1930. His early years saw him traveling through several European countries, studying in institutions from England to Jerusalem, and even competing in the 1948 Olympic Games. After moving to the United States in the 1950s, Esfandiary embraced a career as a writer and philosopher, envisioning the future changes that would shape human civilization. A strong proponent of transhumanism, Esfandiary believed that technology would ultimately solve all of humanity’s problems, including the issue of death. His forward-thinking views brought him recognition and opportunities to work as a consultant and lecturer at various universities and institutions across America.
F.M. Esfandiary, determined to live forever, chose to rename himself FM-2030. The '2030' part of his name represented the year he believed humanity would achieve immortality. It also marked the year he would turn 100. However, FM-2030's life came to an end in 2000 when he succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Yet, by that time, he had already ensured that he would not miss the future. His body—specifically, his head—was cryopreserved by the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, one of the top cryonics companies. With over 160 people frozen and another 1,500 clients awaiting their time, FM-2030 now lies in wait, hoping for the day when humanity masters the secret of eternal life.
3. Elizabeth Parrish
Elizabeth Parrish is the founder of BioViva Sciences, an American biotech firm with a bold mission: to extend human life through gene therapy. This innovative approach involves altering a person’s DNA using advanced genetic programs, followed by the reimplantation of these modified genes into the individual. Over time, the changes spread throughout the body, leading to profound effects. One of the most ambitious goals of this treatment is to halt the aging process, effectively reversing biological age.
How does this groundbreaking process work? At the core of our aging is DNA, which is protected by structures known as telomeres. As cells divide, the telomeres shorten, making the DNA increasingly vulnerable to damage. This shortening of telomeres limits the number of times a cell can divide before it dies, which ultimately leads to aging. Additionally, this process heightens the risk of various diseases, including cancer. In a secret procedure in 2015, Parrish became the first person to try a treatment aimed at lengthening her telomeres by injecting enzymes designed to preserve them. The result? A bold step toward the reversal of aging itself.
Prior to the experiment, Elizabeth Parrish, who was 44 at the time, had an estimated biological age of 65. However, just six months after undergoing gene therapy, her biological age dropped dramatically to 45. By 2018, without any further interventions, Parrish had effectively reversed her cellular age to around 30 years. While many experts remain skeptical about the risks associated with this procedure, the outcomes of her treatment appear to be scientifically validated. In terms of potential immortality, Elizabeth Parrish seems to be the one who has come closest to achieving the impossible.
2. Anatoli Brouchkov
Alchemy and cryonics are both well-established methods in the pursuit of immortality, but bacterial therapy is a far less conventional approach. Some believe that by injecting certain bacteria into their bloodstream, they can unlock the longevity powers of these microbes. What's even more fascinating is that these individuals aren't just casual experimenters—they are renowned scientists in their fields.
In 2009, researchers from Moscow State University stumbled upon ancient bacteria buried deep within Siberian ice. These bacteria, estimated to be around million years old, were still alive. The precise reason for their remarkable survival remains unclear. After injecting these microbes, known as Bacillus F, into mice, flies, and plants, the results were astonishing: all subjects showed remarkable improvements in strength and overall health.
Instead of waiting for more research on the bacteria's effects, Anatoli Brouchkov, the lead scientist of the project, took matters into his own hands in 2013. He injected himself with a colony of the super-bacteria, eager to observe any changes. Remarkably, Brouchkov is still alive and claims to be in better health than ever. In 2015, he reported feeling rejuvenated and noted that since receiving the injection, he hadn't caught the flu even once.
Whether this experiment made him immortal remains unclear. However, Brouchkov's microbial experiment didn't stop with him. In 2017, he shared the same bacteria with a German actress, offering her the chance to experience the effects firsthand.
1. Alexander Bogdanov
The infamous Pope Innocent VIII wasn't the only one convinced that the blood of others could bring eternal youth. Centuries later, a prominent political figure followed in his footsteps. Alexander Bogdanov, born in Russia in 1873, was a well-known Communist leader. However, his radical ideas led to a five-year exile. During World War I, he worked as a doctor, but a few years later, he shifted his focus from politics to science.
Bogdanov delved into the possibilities of blood transfusions, a cutting-edge procedure for his era. He believed that blood transfusions could not only heal diseases but also prolong a person's life. With the backing of the prominent revolutionary Joseph Stalin, Bogdanov was granted his own blood transfusion institute in Moscow in 1926.
However, two years earlier, Bogdanov had already begun experimenting with blood transfusions as a means to potentially extend life indefinitely. Along with his wife, he received over ten transfusions from younger individuals, many of whom shared his belief in the theory of life extension. Tragically, in 1928, things took a turn for the worse for Bogdanov.
Bogdanov decided to receive a transfusion from a young man who was infected with tuberculosis, despite considering himself immune to the disease. Hours after the procedure, both men experienced a severe reaction. While the young donor recovered, Bogdanov succumbed to renal failure two weeks later. In the end, it appeared that blood transfusions were too dangerous a path to immortality. Yet, many reported that both Bogdanov and his wife appeared a decade younger after the transfusions.
