Equity Method Investment in Common Stock of Asterias, at fair value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions		1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			4 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
		May 12, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2015	May 12, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2015	May 13, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Fair value on investment			$ 52,194		$ 52,194				$ 52,194				$ 0
Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)												21.7
Fair value on investment			52,200		52,200				52,200			$ 65,700
Unrealized loss on equity method investment					13,500				13,500
Condensed Statements of Operations: [Abstract]
Total revenue		$ 760	772	[1],[2]	1,532	[2]	$ 772	$ 2,354	3,126	[2]	$ 1,552
Gross profit		760	766	[1],[2]	1,526	[2]	734	2,301	3,067	[2]	1,464
Loss from operations		(2,940)	(43,134)	[1],[2]	(7,074)	[2]	(4,807)	(14,032)	(18,166)	[2]	(9,342)
Net loss		$ (2,776)	(2,383)	[1],[2]	(5,159)	[2]	$ (3,618)	$ (13,113)	(15,496)	[2]	$ (6,590)
Condensed Balance Sheet information: [Abstract]
Current assets	[2]		33,830		33,830				33,830				12,783
Noncurrent assets	[2]		33,414		33,414				33,414				27,445
Total assets	[2]		67,244		67,244				67,244				40,228
Current liabilities	[2]		13,219		13,219				13,219				4,450
Noncurrent liabilities	[2]		10,751		10,751				10,751				4,605
Stockholders' equity	[2]		43,274		43,274				43,274				31,173
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	[2]		$ 67,244		$ 67,244				$ 67,244				$ 40,228

[1] The condensed unaudited statement of operations information for the period May 13, 2016 through June 30, 2016 is not included in the unaudited consolidated results of BioTime for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 due to the Deconsolidation of Asterias on May 13, 2016.

[2] The condensed unaudited statement of operations information included in the table above reflects Asterias' results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. Asterias unaudited results of operations for the period from January 1, 2016 through May 12, 2016, the date immediately preceding the Deconsolidation, are included in the unaudited consolidated results of operations of BioTime for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 shown in the table below. The condensed unaudited balance sheet information of Asterias included in the table above was included in BioTime's consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2015, after intercompany eliminations.