- A Nature Cell Biology paper (2014) showed that a fully organized and functional thymus can be generated in vivo by reprogramming mouse fibroblasts to express the transcription factor FOXN1, offering a path to immune-system rejuvenation.  
- The #hplusroadmap community is tracking a grassroots movement where diabetics are buying discontinued Medtronic insulin pumps on the secondary market to run the open-source OpenAPS closed-loop control algorithm, effectively creating DIY artificial pancreases.  
- Participants discussed the legal and practical hurdles of cloning or reverse-engineering insulin pumps, noting that even a $7,000 new pump could be simplified by replacing only its MCU board while reusing the proven mechanical pump assembly.  
- A Hacker News thread linked in the channel highlights surging demand for old, firmware-hackable pumps, illustrating how Moore’s-law-like progress in control algorithms is outpacing commercial medical-device innovation.  
- The group framed these “loopers” as real-world cyborgs whose closed-loop glucose control already outperforms unaided human management, setting a precedent for consumer-driven transhumanist health tech.