Equity Method Accounting for Common Stock of Asterias, at fair value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions		3 Months Ended			4 Months Ended	5 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016		Sep. 30, 2015	May 12, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Sep. 30, 2015	May 13, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Fair value on investment		$ 92,210				$ 92,210		$ 92,210				$ 0
Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)											21.7
Fair value on investment		92,200				92,200		92,200			$ 65,700
Unrealized gains on equity method investment		40,000						26,500
Condensed Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Total revenue		2,076	[1]	$ 1,423	$ 2,354	2,848	[1],[2]	5,202	[1]	$ 2,974
Gross profit		2,017	[1]	1,247	2,301	2,783	[1],[2]	5,084	[1]	2,709
Loss from operations		(7,425)	[1]	(4,555)	(13,944)	(11,647)	[1],[2]	(25,591)	[1]	(13,899)
Net loss		(10,648)	[1]	$ (3,739)	$ (13,113)	(11,991)	[1],[2]	(26,144)	[1]	$ (10,708)
Condensed Balance Sheet information [Abstract]
Current assets	[1]	35,914				35,914		35,914				12,783
Noncurrent assets	[1]	34,389				34,389		34,389				27,445
Total assets	[1]	70,303				70,303		70,303				40,228
Current liabilities	[1]	8,876				8,876		8,876				4,450
Noncurrent liabilities	[1]	18,701				18,701		18,701				4,605
Stockholders' equity	[1]	42,726				42,726		42,726				31,173
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	[1]	$ 70,303				$ 70,303		$ 70,303				$ 40,228

[1] The condensed unaudited statement of operations information included in the table above reflects Asterias' results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 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 nine months ended September 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.

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