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The Transhuman Daily · EP.003 · Wednesday 4 November 2026

SELF-IMPROVEMENT.

Self-improvement: Anthropic says AI helping build AI may soon speed up sharply, an early trial fixed a faulty DNA letter in the liver, and six humanoids worked a 24-hour shift.

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The Transhuman Daily

SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Anthropic's IPO filing says AI helping build AI may soon sharply speed up its progress
Anthropic's amended IPO filing says its estimates for future models, not current ones, indicate it may imminently meet its safety policy's definition of 'dramatically accelerated progress attributable to AI', meaning AI that speeds up AI research. It says that could pose a considerable safety risk; no current model has crossed the threshold.
Super intelligence Company filing, its own estimate · COMPANY CLAIM · TechCrunch, SEC (Anthropic S-1/A)
In an early trial, base editing fixed the faulty DNA letter behind alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in the liver
Hannover Medical School and Renji Hospital, Shanghai, used base editing to swap the single faulty DNA letter inside the liver in seven patients; a biopsy confirmed precise correction in one, who makes working AAT again after one infusion. An early trial: not yet authorised, and it can't reverse existing damage.
Super longevity Early trial, 7 patients · THIS WEEK · Hannover Medical School (Medical Xpress), Gadget Review, Journal of Hepatology

The Transhuman Daily

SUPER INTELLIGENCE

Pinal, an AI from Westlake University, designs proteins from plain-language descriptions
Described in Nature, Pinal turns a plain description of what a protein should do into a sequence; trained on about 135 million proteins, it made designs tested in the lab, like a protein that glows green and an enzyme that breaks down PET plastic. Many designs are duds, but with enough tries it reliably hits the goal.
Super intelligence Peer-reviewed study (Nature), lab-tested · Singularity Hub, Nature
China's BrainCo plans a brain-stimulating wearable to curb appetite, an 'electronic GLP-1'
Hangzhou-based BrainCo says it's developing a wearable that could suppress appetite by stimulating the brain, an 'electronic version of GLP-1' obesity drugs, and aims to bring it to market in two to three years, China first. A plan from an interview with founding partner Nyx He: no device or trial data yet.
Super intelligence Company plan, no trial data · COMPANY CLAIM · Bloomberg (via Moneycontrol), NewsBytes
A brain-inspired chip read emotions from brainwave recordings in 18 microseconds on 97.5% less energy
Beijing Institute of Technology's brain-inspired spiking network on an FPGA chip classified emotions from EEG recordings in 18 microseconds, using 97.5% less energy than the standard EEGNet, with up to 96.85% accuracy (National Science Review). A lab test on recorded data, aimed at battery-powered wearables for mental-health monitoring.
Super intelligence Lab test on recorded EEG datasets · Neuroscience News
AI agents now help steer SETI's Allen Telescope Array and analyse its radio signals live
The SETI Institute and Breakthrough Listen use AI agents on Nvidia's Holoscan platform to steer the 42-antenna Allen Telescope Array and analyse incoming signals on the fly; the team says work that took weeks can wrap up in hours, and it caught a pulsar in real time. No alien signal has been found since SETI began in 1960.
Super intelligence Announcement, the team's own speed claims · THIS WEEK · The Decoder, Crypto Briefing

The Transhuman Daily

SUPER LONGEVITY

An omega-6 fatty acid made worn-out cells self-destruct and cleared some from old mice
In a Cell study, senescent (worn-out) cells had low levels of the omega-6 fatty acid DGLA; adding it made them self-destruct by ferroptosis while healthy cells were largely spared, and oral DGLA cut senescent cells and inflammation in aged mice. A lead for clearing ageing cells, shown in mice and cells, not tested in people.
Super longevity Mouse and cell study · IN MICE · University of Eastern Finland (Medical Xpress)
Ring-shaped RNA carrying three Yamanaka factors rejuvenated aged stem cells in a dish without a full reset
Circular RNA carrying OCT4, SOX2 and KLF4 (circ-OSK), delivered by lipid nanoparticles, cut senescence and DNA-damage markers in aged mesenchymal stem cells and restored growth and differentiation to early-passage levels, without making them pluripotent or modifying their genome (Stem Cell Research & Therapy). Cells in a dish only.
Super longevity Cell study · IN CELLS · Stem Cell Research & Therapy, Fight Aging!
Muna's TREM2 pill had no serious side effects in Phase 1 and nudged brain-fluid markers toward younger levels
Muna Therapeutics' MNA-001, a pill that activates TREM2 on microglia, the brain's maintenance cells, had no serious adverse events in a placebo-controlled Phase 1; in older volunteers, exploratory brain-fluid markers shifted toward younger levels. Company-reported, with no participant numbers, and markers aren't better memory.
Super longevity Phase 1 trial, company-reported · EARLY TRIAL · Longevity.Technology, Muna Therapeutics
Ten blood proteins picked out ALS with 98.3% balanced accuracy, ahead of today's best single marker
Emory researchers used machine learning to trim a 300-plus protein blood test to 10 proteins; in a separate group of 144 people with ALS and 37 without, the panel scored 98.3% balanced accuracy versus 89.9% for neurofilament light alone (Nature Communications). A step toward a blood test for ALS, not yet a clinical test.
Super longevity Peer-reviewed study, validated in 181 people · Longevity.Technology, Nature Communications

The Transhuman Daily

SUPER WELLBEING

44% of drinkers on GLP-1 drugs say they drink less, a national US survey found
In a Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital survey of 2,009 US adults (JAMA Psychiatry), 242 were drinkers when they started GLP-1 drugs: 44.2% of them say they now drink less, most of the rest saw no change and three drink more, with bigger effects in those at risk of unhealthy drinking. Self-reported, not a trial.
Super wellbeing Survey, 2,009 adults, self-reported · Harvard Medical School (Medical Xpress), JAMA Psychiatry
UCSF began a first-in-human trial of gentle ultrasound to quiet persistent voices in schizophrenia
About 40% of people with schizophrenia keep hearing voices despite medication. UCSF's Phase 1 trial gives up to 12 people five daily sessions of low-intensity focused ultrasound aimed deep in the brain, plus five sham sessions; the first participants report fewer hallucinations. An early trial with anecdotal reports so far.
Super wellbeing Phase 1 trial, up to 12 people · EARLY TRIAL · UCSF (Medical Xpress)

The Transhuman Daily

THE CATCH

As Australia readies three-parent IVF, data show the mother's mitochondria can creep back
STAT reports that after mitochondrial replacement, some children carry the mother's mitochondria again: 5% to 16% in three of Newcastle's eight babies, up to 51% in a Greek study, up to 72% in a Ukrainian clinic's unpublished data. Newcastle's children show no disease; Australia is preparing a national trial.
Super longevity Report on small studies, some unpublished · STAT
A pilot of blueberries for depression in older adults found no significant difference
In a Harvard Medical School-led pilot, 18 sedentary adults aged 65 and over took freeze-dried blueberry powder, about two cups of berries a day, or a placebo for three months. Symptoms improved in both groups, more so with blueberries, but the difference wasn't statistically significant. A small pilot, not proof.
Super wellbeing Pilot trial, 18 people · EARLY TRIAL · ScienceAlert, Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging

The Transhuman Daily

THE FRONTIER

Six AGIBOT humanoid robots worked a 24-hour convenience-store shift in China, livestreamed
In AGIBOT's 'Robots Never Clock Out' livestream, six G2 humanoids stocked shelves, made coffee and hot food, greeted customers and cleared rubbish for 24 hours in a Chinese convenience store, alongside real customers and staff. A company demo: no independently audited task log, intervention count or failure rate has been released.
Frontier tech Company demo, no performance data · COMPANY CLAIM · Gadget Review, Interesting Engineering
Jumping spiders show REM-like sleep and catch up on it after a disturbed night
University of Bonn biologists watched ten fringed jumping spiders, a species from Australia's tropical northeast: REM-like bouts with twitching legs and moving retinas averaged about 83 seconds, and after a night disturbed by fruit flies REM-like time rose from about 9 to 17 minutes. Behaviour only, not brain activity: it doesn't show spiders dream.
Super wellbeing Behavioural study, 10 spiders · New Atlas
A hand-cranked, power-free gadget reads blood type and red-cell level from one drop in a minute
National Taiwan University's device spins a drop of blood through winding channels with three antibodies: the clumps show the blood type and their amount the hematocrit, within a minute and with no electricity or training, matching hospital equipment almost exactly (Biosensors and Bioelectronics). Early validation, aimed at first responders.
Frontier tech Early validation vs hospital equipment · ScienceAlert, Biosensors and Bioelectronics

Transcript

Read the narration

It's Wednesday, November 4, and this is the Transhuman Daily.

Here's your day in transhumanism, in 3 minutes flat.

Self-improvement.

Anthropic says AI helping build AI may soon dramatically speed up progress.

And in an early trial, doctors fixed a faulty DNA letter inside a patient's liver.

In AI, a new tool designs proteins from a plain description, like 'glow green' or 'break down plastic'.

Meanwhile, China's BrainCo plans a brain-stimulating wearable to curb appetite: an 'electronic GLP-1'.

A brain-inspired chip read emotions from brainwave recordings in microseconds, on about a fortieth of the energy.

And AI agents now help run a telescope listening for alien signals. Nothing yet.

In the longevity lab, a fatty acid made worn-out cells self-destruct, and cleared some from old mice.

And ring-shaped RNA rewound aged stem cells in a dish, without the risky full reset.

In an early trial, Muna says its pill nudged older volunteers' brain-fluid markers toward younger levels.

And ten blood proteins spotted ALS with 98% accuracy, well ahead of today's best marker.

For wellbeing, 44% of drinkers on GLP-1 drugs say they now drink less.

And an early trial is aiming gentle ultrasound de ep in the brain to quiet voices in schizophrenia.

Now, the catch. As Australia readies three-parent IVF, studies show the mother's mitochondria can creep back.

And blueberries for depression? That pilot had just 18 people, and the difference wasn't significant.

Meanwhile, six humanoid robots worked a 24-hour shift in a Chinese convenience store, live.

Jumping spiders seem to have REM-like sleep, and they catch up on it after a rough night.

Plus, a hand-cranked gadget reads your blood type from one drop in a minute.

No power needed.

Smarter AI, self-repairing cells, healthier habits.

Self-improvement just got new tools.

Zoom out, and the line only goes up.

And the future keeps arriving ahead of schedule.

One day, all of this. Tomorrow, probably more.

You've been watching the Transhuman Daily.

Live long. See you tomorrow.

Want more? Meet us in North Sydney on November 27.

Good to know

Window: the 24 hours to 07:00 AEDT, Wed 4 Nov 2026; items marked THIS WEEK are from 31 Oct and 2 Nov. This week: the base-editing trial (released 2 Nov) and the AI agents at SETI's telescope (announced 31 Oct). Evidence: Anthropic's warning is its own estimate in its IPO filing; BrainCo's wearable is a plan; Muna's Phase 1 markers are company-reported; the ultrasound trial is a first-in-human Phase 1; the GLP-1 drinking result is a survey. Screenshots are the publishers' public pages as captured on 4 Nov 2026; copyright remains with the publishers. Every headline links to its source. The narrator is an AI voice; the visuals and music are generated for each episode. Nothing here is medical or financial advice.

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