Justice Department records and prior reporting show Jeffrey Epstein aggressively pursued genetics research and transhumanist ideas, funding and communicating with prominent scientists about ethically controversial projects. He discussed genetically modifying embryos, expressed racist views about intelligence and genetics, and explored biological ways to alter female sexual desire. Reporting also describes plans to spread his DNA by impregnating multiple women, and the newly released files include cryptic, unsettling exchanges with close associates.
Jeffrey Epstein’s Disturbing Obsession With “Improving” Human DNA: Emails Show Talks With Leading Scientists
Illustration by Tag Hartman-Simkins / Futurism. Source: Rick Friedman / Rick Friedman Photography / Corbis via Getty Images
Newly released Justice Department documents and previously published reporting paint a clearer picture of Jeffrey Epstein’s unusual and troubling interest in genetics, transhumanism, and efforts to “improve” human DNA. The files show Epstein persistently pursued funding, convened scientists, and exchanged emails about ethically fraught ideas — from designer embryos to altering traits tied to intelligence and sexual desire.
Epstein’s Network and Influence
Epstein used his wealth and social access to cultivate relationships with prominent researchers and intellectuals. He funded research, hosted high-profile conferences and parties, and offered to underwrite projects that aligned with his interests. A 2006 meeting organized by Epstein on St. Thomas in the British Virgin Islands, which drew figures such as Stephen Hawking and Kip Thorne, was ostensibly about theoretical physics; attendees later recalled Epstein steering conversations toward improving the human genome and the possibility of creating “superior” humans.
Transhumanism, Eugenic Ideas, And Funding Offers
The documents and contemporaneous reporting show Epstein expressing fascination with transhumanist ideas — a movement that advocates using technologies such as genetic engineering and artificial intelligence to alter or enhance human biology, and which critics say can overlap with eugenic thinking. Epstein repeatedly offered to fund projects that would pursue such goals, and several scientists accepted donations or maintained correspondence with him after his 2008 guilty plea on charges related to child prostitution.
Designer Babies And Embryo Modification
Epstein discussed investing in research aimed at genetically modifying embryos to select for desired traits. In a 2018 email exchange with entrepreneur Bryan Bishop — subject line: “Designer babies” — Bishop asked about financing and Epstein replied, "i have no issue with investing." Such exchanges underscore both Epstein’s financial involvement and his interest in technologies that raise stark ethical questions.
Racist Beliefs And Genetic Claims
Epstein’s communications also reveal racist beliefs about intelligence and heredity. In 2016 he emailed cognitive scientist Joscha Bach and expressed interest in genetically modifying Black people to make them “smarter”; Bach had previously received a donation of roughly $400,000 from Epstein. In an email exchange with Noam Chomsky the same year, Epstein asserted that the “test score gap amongst African Americans is well documented” and argued that a “set of genes used for working memory” might be identified and altered. These statements reflect a dangerous conflation of social science, contested genetic claims, and eugenic thinking.
Plans To “Seed” The Human Race
Reporting by The New York Times in 2019 described Epstein’s alleged plan to spread his own DNA by impregnating multiple women at his 33,000-square-foot New Mexico ranch. According to that reporting, Epstein discussed the idea with several senior scientists; one anonymous source claimed Epstein intended to impregnate up to 20 women at a time. Whether motivated by narcissism, eugenic fantasy, or both, the reports add a chilling dimension to his scientific outreach.
Sexual-Health Experiments And The “Horny Virus” Hypothesis
Epstein also explored altering female sexual desire through biological means. Between 2008 and 2013 he traded emails with former Stanford human biology professor Nathan Wolfe about developing what they referred to as a potential "female viagra." Wolfe later wrote to Epstein in May 2013 that a “horny virus hypothesis” might be valid and described a proposed study linking sexual behavior to microbial diversity, soliciting Epstein’s views on funding.
High-Profile Contacts And Disturbing Exchanges
Epstein’s contacts included Harvard evolutionary biologist Martin Nowak, who received substantial funding from Epstein. Public records show a $30 million donation in 2003 to support Nowak’s work. The newly released documents also include cryptic and unsettling messages: a 2002 email to Ghislaine Maxwell in which Epstein wrote, "i am so very sorry i caused you so much worry... i am so happy that i did not kill anybody," and a 2014 exchange referencing a captured "spy," to which Nowak reportedly replied, "did you torture her." These messages raise questions about the tone and content of communications within Epstein’s circle.
Context And Ethical Concerns
Many of the ideas Epstein pursued — from germline editing to behavior-modifying interventions — are at the center of active scientific and ethical debate. The combination of Epstein’s criminal history, his willingness to leverage wealth for influence, and the racist tenor of some of his remarks makes these revelations particularly troubling. They underscore the need for transparency, robust ethical oversight, and careful separation between scientific inquiry and funding sources with problematic motives.
Sources: Newly released Justice Department documents, reporting by The New York Times, The Telegraph, and Stanford Daily; archived email exchanges cited in public reports.
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