The Technology That Will Change Humans Forever

Superhuman abilities once belonged to comic books. But breakthroughs in gene editing, cellular reprogramming, and bioengineering suggest the future of enhanced human biology is closer than we think...

I’ve always been fascinated by superheroes—especially the transformations where ordinary people become extraordinary in an instant.

Think Spider-Man bitten by a radioactive spider, or Captain America infused with the super-soldier serum.

Of course, these stories are fantasy.

But they capture something deeper in the human imagination than simple childhood wonder. They tap into a timeless desire: the urge to engineer ourselves into something greater. Stronger. Smarter. Healthier. Maybe even morally better.

Some people wrinkle their noses at that idea. They say it’s “playing God.”

But personally, I welcome the possibility.

Because today I want to talk about something that still sounds like science fiction—but is rapidly becoming science fact: the future of human bioengineering.

Believe it or not, we may be only years away from technologies that could dramatically reshape the human body and mind. The possibility of engineering stronger muscles, sharper cognition, longer healthspan and lifespan.

We are rapidly approaching that fantasy we’ve all imagined at some point.

Let’s start with where we are right now.

“Miracle” Weight Loss Drugs, and Their Limitations

*For more details, see THIS dedicated letter.

A good case study is what many people call the “miracle drugs” of our time: GLP-1 receptor agonists. Medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Now, I know these drugs are controversial.

But whatever your opinion of them, one thing isn’t in dispute: their biological effects are profound.

We can inject a compound that fundamentally alters hunger signaling and metabolism, leading to dramatic weight loss.

In recent trials with a next-generation drug, retatrutide—a so-called “GLP-3”—participants lost roughly a quarter of their body weight in just 48 weeks.

*Nuance note: And for the XX chromosomes watching… the effect was even larger in women. Finally, the fairer sex gets a slightly bigger bite of the apple.

Now, like it or not, these drugs represent a major technological advance in treating one of the most common and debilitating diseases of modern society: obesity.

And yes, it’s true: In many ways we created this problem ourselves—by engineering an environment optimized for comfort, convenience, and junk food.

But the fact that we can now begin to bioengineer our way out of that problem—at least partially—is remarkable.

Now to be clear: I am not saying people should be taking these drugs willy-nilly, using them as an excuse to avoid lifestyle modifications, or using them for what’s come to be known as “looks-maxing.”

I’m simply saying the metabolic biology here is extraordinary.

But these drugs still have major limitations.

One of the most important is that the weight loss they cause isn’t purely fat loss. A meaningful portion comes from lean muscle mass—roughly 25 to 39% of total weight lost.

That’s obviously not ideal.

My own hypothesis is that much of this may be behavioral. And resistance training and adequate protein intake likely mitigate a good portion of the lean mass loss. But not all of it.

So, the obvious next step in human bioengineering would be a therapy that does something better: selectively reduce body fat while preserving—or even increasing—muscle mass.

That sounds like science fiction.

Except data suggest it’s already here.

The Future of Fat Loss (And Muscle Gain)

*For more details, see THIS dedicated letter.

A paper recently published in Nature Medicine suggests we may truly be on the cusp of developing the ideal body recomposition drug.

The inspiration for this treatment comes directly from nature—specifically a rare mutation in the myostatin gene found in so-called double-muscled cattle, bully whippets, and a handful of humans who, through genetics, develop extraordinary musculature and remarkably low body fat.

I say this lovingly: they’re genetic freaks.

Think something close to Captain America physiology—bigger muscles, less fat, and striking physical performance.

Interestingly, the animal literature suggests these mutations may even confer advantages for healthspan and possibly longevity.

That’s not entirely surprising when you consider that muscle itself is an endocrine organ. It secretes signaling molecules—myokines—that can protect other organs, including the brain.

So, what we might be looking at here is a genuine metabolic goldmine.

Bimagrumab Phase II Trial Complete

The new trial tested a fully human monoclonal antibody called bimagrumab.

The goal is to partially mimic the biological pathways seen in these genetically gifted individuals by targeting the signaling systems that normally limit muscle growth.

And the results were striking.

Participants with obesity didn’t just lose weight. Every gram of weight loss came from fat.

In other words: 100% fat loss.

Even more remarkable, participants simultaneously gained some muscle mass and experienced improvements in strength—all without any recorded increase in physical activity.

So here we have a therapy that can simultaneously reduce fat, increase muscle, and improve strength without requiring additional effort.

That begins to edge into territory that once belonged purely to comic books.

An intervention that moves the human body toward the superhero aesthetic: leaner, stronger, and more metabolically resilient.

And this isn’t hypothetical science fiction. This innovation has already completed phase II human trials.

It’s here.

Now, to be fair, the treatment isn’t completely without drawbacks.

Some participants reported mild side effects like gastrointestinal upset, headaches, and acne.

But the larger point remains: We are beginning to glimpse a future where the human body can be directly engineered toward greater strength, lower fat mass, and improved metabolic health.

And that future may be arriving much sooner than most people realize.

That’s Today. What About Tomorrow?

So here we have a therapy that can simultaneously reduce fat, increase muscle, and improve strength without requiring additional effort.

That begins to edge into territory that once belonged purely to comic books.

An intervention that moves the human body toward the superhero aesthetic: leaner, stronger, and more metabolically resilient.

And this isn’t hypothetical science fiction. This innovation has already completed phase II human trials.

It’s here!

But this is just the beginning.

Because everything we’ve talked about so far—GLP-1s, muscle-building antibodies—still works within your existing biology.

What if we didn’t have to work within those constraints at all?

What if we could rewrite the biology itself?

Because we already can, and with rapidly increasing precision.

In the In the rest of this letter for StayCurious Metabolism premium members, we dive into:

• Gene Editing, and what that means for diseases from sickle cell to Alzheimer’s.

• Cellular Reprogramming and rejuvenation

• Molecular Messengers & Mitochondrial Transfusions

If you’re not already a StayCurious Metabolism Premium subscriber, now’s the time. This one’s a ride—a glimpse into the future!