Enterprise-Wide Disclosures - Schedule of Revenues Disaggregated by Source (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	[1]
Revenues		$ 4,988	$ 3,458
Grant Revenue [Member]
Revenues		3,572	1,666
Royalties From Product Sales and License Fees [Member]
Revenues		392	389
Subscription and Advertisement Revenues [Member]
Revenues	[2]	691	1,395
Sale of Research Products and Services [Member]
Revenues		$ 333	$ 8

[1] Amounts recognized prior to adoption of Topic 606 have not been adjusted under the Topic 606 modified retrospective transition method.

[2] These revenues were generated by LifeMap Sciences, a subsidiary of AgeX. The revenues shown for 2018 are for the period January 1, 2018 through August 29, 2018. As a result of the AgeX Deconsolidation on August 30, 2018, BioTime does not expect to recognize this type of revenue in subsequent accounting periods.