diff --git a/docs/DOM-CHAT-PANEL.md b/docs/DOM-CHAT-PANEL.md
index 28b4634..7ba9aa5 100644
--- a/docs/DOM-CHAT-PANEL.md
+++ b/docs/DOM-CHAT-PANEL.md
@@ -1,18 +1,20 @@
 # muse.ai Chat Panel & Sidechat DOM Reference
 
-> Captured live via CDP on `opm` browser (warp-opm netns, CDP 9440) on 2026-10-04.
-> Page: `https://muse.ai/`, title "Chat — operator-main".
+> Originally captured live via CDP on `opm` browser (warp-opm netns, CDP 9440).
+> **Re-verified 2026-10-04** via CDP `Runtime.evaluate` on three nodes:
+> `opm` (warp-opm, CDP 9440), `muse` (warp-muse, CDP 9410), `pip` (warp-pip, CDP 9420).
+> Page: `https://muse.ai/`. Sections marked ✅ verified 2026-10-04,
+> 🔧 corrected, 🆕 new since original capture.
 > This is a development reference for reliable automation of the chat navigation panel
 > and sidechat creation. Prefer these selectors over text matching.
 
 ---
 
-## 1. Chat Panel Switcher
+## 1. Chat Panel Switcher ✅ (with corrections)
 
 **Selector:** `[data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-trigger"]`
 
-The button that toggles the chat navigation panel open/closed. Always present in the DOM,
-top-left of the viewport.
+The button that toggles the chat navigation panel open/closed.
 
 ```html
 <button type="button"
@@ -23,31 +25,35 @@ top-left of the viewport.
   <span class="relative flex shrink-0 items-center">
     <span data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-icon-knockout" class="flex size-5 shrink-0 items-center justify-center">
       <span data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-navigation-icon" aria-hidden="true" style="width: 20px; height: 20px;">
-        <!-- hamburger SVG: three horizontal lines -->
+        <!-- hamburger SVG: three horizontal <path> elements -->
       </span>
     </span>
+    <!-- 🆕 unread dot appears here when unread chats exist (see §1b) -->
   </span>
   <span class="flex min-w-0 flex-col" title="Chats">
-    <span class="block min-w-0 truncate">Chats</span>
+    <span class="block min-w-0 truncate">Chats</span>   <!-- 🔧 actually the ACTIVE CHAT TITLE, see below -->
   </span>
   <span class="sr-only">Open chat and side chats</span>
 </button>
 ```
 
-**Key facts:**
+**Key facts (✅ verified 2026-10-04 on opm/muse/pip):**
 
 | Property | Value |
 |---|---|
 | Tag | `BUTTON` |
-| Always in DOM | Yes (both panel states) |
+| In DOM on `https://muse.ai/` or `/thread/<uuid>` | ✅ Yes (both panel states) |
+| In DOM on `/thread/new` stripped state | 🔧 **NO — completely absent** (see §8) |
 | Visible | Yes (`offsetParent !== null`) |
-| Position | Top-left: `x:84, y:12, w:82, h:36` |
+| Position | Top-left: `x:84, y:12, w:82, h:36` (exact on opm) |
 | `aria-expanded` | **Not set** (`null`) — do NOT use for state detection |
-| Visible text | `Chats` |
-| Screen-reader text | `Open chat and side chats` |
-| Icon | Hamburger menu (3 horizontal lines), not a chat bubble |
+| `data-pel-click` | `chat_threads_open_click` |
+| `data-slot` | `popover-anchor` |
+| Visible text | 🔧 **Active chat title, NOT static "Chats".** Shows e.g. `Heartbeat check for job scheduler`, `646 pip cross-operator coordination chat`; reads `Chats` only when main chat is active |
+| Screen-reader text | `Open chat and side chats` (+ `Unread chats` when unread exist) |
+| Icon | Hamburger menu (3 horizontal `<path>` lines), not a chat bubble |
 
-**Parent chain (bottom-up, 4 levels):**
+**Parent chain (bottom-up, 4 levels):** ✅ unchanged
 
 ```
 1. DIV  [data-testid="hatch-chat-leading-controls"]
@@ -57,17 +63,42 @@ top-left of the viewport.
 4. DIV  (no testid)  class="relative flex min-h-0 min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden"
 ```
 
-**Behavior:** The switcher **toggles**. Clicking when the panel is closed opens it;
-clicking when open closes it. Always check panel state before clicking — never
-blind-click.
+**Behavior (✅ verified atomically 2026-10-04):** The switcher **toggles in place —
+no navigation**. Click when closed → panel opens (shell `innerHTML` 0 → 60667,
+rows 0 → 26 on opm). Click when open → panel closes. Always check panel state
+before clicking — never blind-click. (An earlier non-atomic probe appeared to
+navigate; that was a race with the live heartbeat job driving the same browser —
+see §9.)
 
 **Child testids** (for reference):
 - `[data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-icon-knockout"]` — icon wrapper span
 - `[data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-navigation-icon"]` — the hamburger SVG span
+- 🆕 `[data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-unread-indicator"]` — unread blue dot (see §1b)
 
 ---
 
-## 2. Sidechat Create Button ("New side chat")
+## 1b. Unread Indicator 🆕 (verified 2026-10-04 on muse)
+
+When unread chats exist, the switcher gains:
+
+```html
+<span data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-unread-indicator"
+      class="bg-fill-blue absolute -end-0.5 size-2 rounded-full"
+      aria-hidden="true"></span>
+<span class="sr-only">Unread chats</span>
+```
+
+| Property | Value |
+|---|---|
+| Selector | `[data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-unread-indicator"]` |
+| Visual | Blue dot (`bg-fill-blue`, 8px circle) overlaid on the switcher icon |
+| `aria-hidden` | `true` — screen readers get the sr-only `Unread chats` text instead |
+| Programmatic signal | **Presence = unread chats exist.** Most reliable unread check |
+| Companion signal | `document.title` gains an `(N)` prefix, e.g. `(1) Chat — operator-pip` |
+
+---
+
+## 2. Sidechat Create Button ("New side chat") ✅
 
 **Selector:** `[data-testid="hatch-chat-compose"]`
 
@@ -88,48 +119,31 @@ is OPEN.** This makes it the most reliable "panel is open and ready" signal.
 </button>
 ```
 
-**Key facts:**
+**Key facts (✅ verified):**
 
 | Property | Value |
 |---|---|
 | Tag | `BUTTON` |
 | In DOM when panel closed | **No** — completely absent |
-| In DOM when panel open | Yes |
+| In DOM when panel open | ✅ Yes (`visible: offsetParent !== null`) |
 | Text content | None (icon-only) |
-| `aria-label` | `New side chat` |
-| `title` | `New side chat` |
+| `aria-label` / `title` | `New side chat` |
 | Icon | Plus sign (`+`), single SVG path |
 
-**Parent chain (bottom-up, 8 levels):**
+**Parent chain (bottom-up, 8 levels):** ✅ unchanged — `SPAN.contents > DIV.group/nav-section`
+(header row: `H3 "Side chats"` + compose) inside the `SECTION` "Side chats".
 
-```
-1. SPAN  (no testid)  class="contents"                        ← direct wrapper
-2. DIV   (no testid)  class="group/nav-section flex w-full items-center"
-                       children: [H3 "Side chats", SPAN(contents) > BUTTON#compose]
-3. SECTION (no testid) class="flex flex-col"                    ← "Side chats" section
-                       children: [DIV(header: H3 + compose), DIV(chat list)]
-4. DIV   (no testid)  class="flex flex-col relative grow-1"
-                       children: [DIV[data-testid="hatch-thread-row"] (Main chat),
-                                  SECTION (Side chats),
-                                  DIV[data-testid="active-side-chat-load-more-sentinel"]]
-5. DIV   (no testid)  class="flex flex-col overflow-hidden relative z-0 overflow-y-auto overscroll-y-contain min-h-0 min-w-0 flex-1 px-3 pb-3"
-6. DIV   (no testid)  class="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col"
-7. DIV   (no testid)  class="text-text-primary flex h-full min-h-0 w-full flex-col overflow-hidden"
-8. DIV   (no testid)  class="min-h-0 min-w-0 flex-1"
-```
-
-**Location in UI:** Inside the "Side chats" section header row, to the right of the
-`H3` "Side chats" collapsible heading.
-
-**What clicking does:** Creates a new sidechat. Browser navigates to
-`https://muse.ai/thread/new` (placeholder URL; the real thread UUID appears after
-the first message is sent or navigation settles).
+**What clicking does (✅ verified 2026-10-04):** Creates a new sidechat draft.
+Browser navigates `https://muse.ai/` → `https://muse.ai/thread/new`
+(placeholder URL; the real thread UUID appears after the first message is sent
+or navigation settles). **No sidechat exists server-side until a message is sent**
+— navigating to `/thread/new` and back is harmless.
 
 ---
 
-## 3. Chat Navigation Panel Structure
+## 3. Chat Navigation Panel Structure ✅
 
-### 3a. Panel shell (always in DOM)
+### 3a. Panel shell (always in DOM — except §8)
 
 **Selector:** `[data-testid="hatch-side-chats-panel-shell"]`
 
@@ -141,70 +155,50 @@ the first message is sent or navigation settles).
 </div>
 ```
 
-| State | `innerHTML` | `innerText` |
+| State | `innerHTML` | `style.width` / computed |
 |---|---|---|
-| Closed | `""` (empty string) | `""` |
-| Open | Full `<nav>` tree (see below) | `Main chat\njust now\nSide chats\n<chat titles>...` |
+| Closed | ✅ `""` (empty string) | ✅ `0px` |
+| Open | ✅ Full `<nav>` tree (60KB+ on opm, 26 rows) | ✅ `240px` |
 
-**Panel width:** Fixed `240px`.
+### 3b. Open panel tree ✅ (verified — 26 rows on opm)
 
-### 3b. Open panel tree
+Structure unchanged from original capture. `NAV[aria-label="Side chats"]` →
+`DIV[data-testid="hatch-side-chats-panel-content"]` → search toolbar (60px) +
+scrollable thread list → `DIV[data-testid="hatch-thread-row"][role="button"]`
+(Main chat first) → `SECTION` (Side chats: collapsible `H3` header + compose +
+chat list) → `DIV[data-testid="active-side-chat-load-more-sentinel"]`.
 
-When open, the shell contains:
+### 3c. Related panel testids ✅ (extended)
 
-```
-DIV[data-testid="hatch-side-chats-panel-shell"]  (width: 240px)
-└── DIV[data-hatch-toast-pane="side-chats"]
-    └── DIV[data-testid="hatch-side-chats-panel-sliding-surface"]  (absolute inset-y-0 start-0, width: 240px)
-        └── NAV[aria-label="Side chats"]  (data-pel-impression="chat_threads_overflow_impression", width: 240px)
-            └── DIV[data-testid="hatch-side-chats-panel-content"]  (flex h-full w-full flex-col)
-                ├── DIV[data-testid="hatch-chat-search-toolbar"]  (height: 60px)
-                │   ├── DIV[data-testid="hatch-chat-search-field"]
-                │   │   └── INPUT[aria-label="Search"][placeholder="Search"]
-                │   └── BUTTON[data-testid="hatch-side-chats-options"]
-                │       [aria-label="Side chat options"]  (three-dots menu, dropdown trigger)
-                └── DIV (scrollable: min-h-0 min-w-0 flex-1)
-                    └── DIV (thread list container)
-                        ├── DIV[data-testid="hatch-thread-row"][role="button"]  ← Main chat row
-                        ├── SECTION (flex flex-col)  ← Side chats section
-                        │   ├── DIV.group/nav-section (header)
-                        │   │   ├── H3 > BUTTON[aria-expanded="true"]  "Side chats" (collapsible)
-                        │   │   └── SPAN.contents > BUTTON[data-testid="hatch-chat-compose"]
-                        │   └── DIV (chat list)
-                        │       └── DIV.overflow-hidden > DIV.flex.flex-col.gap-px > DIV.flex.flex-col.gap-px
-                        │           └── DIV[data-testid="hatch-thread-row"][role="button"]  ← per sidechat
-                        └── DIV[data-testid="active-side-chat-load-more-sentinel"]  ← infinite scroll
-```
+| Testid | Element | Purpose | Status |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| `hatch-side-chats-panel-shell` | `DIV` | Outer shell; always in DOM (except §8); empty when closed | ✅ |
+| `hatch-side-chats-panel-sliding-surface` | `DIV` | Sliding animation surface (open state only) | ✅ |
+| `hatch-side-chats-panel-content` | `DIV` | Panel content wrapper | ✅ |
+| `hatch-chat-search-toolbar` | `DIV` | Top toolbar (search + options) | ✅ |
+| `hatch-chat-search-field` | `DIV` | Search input container (`input[aria-label="Search"][placeholder="Search"]`) | ✅ |
+| `hatch-side-chats-options` | `BUTTON` | `aria-label="Side chat options"` three-dots dropdown | ✅ |
+| `hatch-thread-row` | `DIV` | **Each** chat row (Main chat + every sidechat) | ✅ |
+| `hatch-chat-compose` | `BUTTON` | "New side chat" `+` button | ✅ |
+| `active-side-chat-load-more-sentinel` | `DIV` | Infinite-scroll sentinel at list end | ✅ |
+| `hatch-side-chats-open-drag-handle` | `DIV` | Resize drag handle (separate from shell) | ✅ |
+| `hatch-side-chats-open-drag-handle-divider-line` | `DIV` | Drag handle divider | 🆕 |
+| `hatch-chat-nav-fade` | `DIV` | Fade effect element | ✅ |
+| `hatch-chat-switcher-unread-indicator` | `SPAN` | Unread blue dot on switcher | 🆕 (see §1b) |
 
-### 3c. Related panel testids
+### 3d. Thread row structure (each chat / sidechat) ✅ (with corrections)
 
-| Testid | Element | Purpose |
-|---|---|---|
-| `hatch-side-chats-panel-shell` | `DIV` | Outer shell; always in DOM; empty when closed |
-| `hatch-side-chats-panel-sliding-surface` | `DIV` | Sliding animation surface (open state only) |
-| `hatch-side-chats-panel-content` | `DIV` | Panel content wrapper |
-| `hatch-chat-search-toolbar` | `DIV` | Top toolbar (search + options) |
-| `hatch-chat-search-field` | `DIV` | Search input container |
-| `hatch-side-chats-options` | `BUTTON` | "Side chat options" three-dots dropdown |
-| `hatch-thread-row` | `DIV` | **Each** chat row (Main chat + every sidechat) |
-| `hatch-chat-compose` | `BUTTON` | "New side chat" `+` button |
-| `active-side-chat-load-more-sentinel` | `DIV` | Infinite-scroll sentinel at list end |
-| `hatch-side-chats-open-drag-handle` | `DIV` | Resize drag handle (separate from shell) |
-| `hatch-chat-nav-fade` | `DIV` | Fade effect element |
-
-### 3d. Thread row structure (each chat / sidechat)
-
-Every row — Main chat and each sidechat — uses the same structure:
+Every row — Main chat and each sidechat — uses the same base structure:
 
 ```html
 <div data-testid="hatch-thread-row"
      role="button"
      tabindex="0"
      draggable="false"
-     data-state="closed"
-     data-slot="context-menu-trigger"
+     data-state="closed"                       <!-- 🔧 sidechat rows ONLY; absent on Main chat row -->
+     data-slot="context-menu-trigger"           <!-- 🔧 sidechat rows ONLY; absent on Main chat row -->
      data-pel-click="chat_thread_options_open"
-     aria-current="page"                <!-- ONLY on the currently active chat -->
+     aria-current="page"                        <!-- ONLY on the currently active chat -->
      class="group/nav-row relative flex h-9 w-full shrink-0 items-center gap-0.5 rounded-12 px-2 text-start cursor-pointer ...">
   <div class="min-w-0 flex-1 px-1">
     <p class="text-text-primary flex items-center gap-1 truncate text-subheadline">
@@ -212,60 +206,61 @@ Every row — Main chat and each sidechat — uses the same structure:
     </p>
   </div>
   <span class="text-caption-1 text-text-secondary shrink-0 whitespace-nowrap ...">just now</span>
-  <!-- hover-only action buttons -->
+  <div class="ms-[3px] shrink-0 items-center">   <!-- 🔧 sidechat rows ONLY -->
+    <button aria-label="More thread actions">…</button>  <!-- 🆕 hover-only -->
+  </div>
 </div>
 ```
 
-**Key facts:**
+**Key facts (✅ verified 2026-10-04):**
 
 | Property | Value |
 |---|---|
 | Selector (all rows) | `[data-testid="hatch-thread-row"]` |
 | Tag | `DIV` (not an anchor) |
 | `role` | `button` |
-| Navigation | React `onClick` — **no `<a href="/thread/...">` links exist** in the panel |
+| Navigation | React `onClick` — **zero `<a href="/thread/...">` links exist** in the panel (verified: `a[href*="/thread/"]` count = 0) |
+| Thread UUIDs in panel DOM | ✅ **None.** Regex scan of panel `innerHTML` for UUIDs: 0 hits. Zero `data-value` attributes |
 | Active chat marker | `aria-current="page"` on the active row only |
 | Title | Inner `span[title]` — the chat's display name |
-| Timestamp | Trailing span: `just now`, `1m`, `4m`, etc. |
+| Timestamp | Trailing span: `just now`, `1m`, `4m`, `11m`, etc. |
 | Main chat row | First `hatch-thread-row`, text `Main chat` |
 
+**🔧 Main chat row vs sidechat rows** — they are NOT identical:
+
+| Attribute | Main chat row | Sidechat rows |
+|---|---|---|
+| `data-state` | absent | `closed` |
+| `data-slot` | absent | `context-menu-trigger` |
+| Hover action container (`DIV.ms-[3px]`) | absent | present |
+| Hover button | none | `button[aria-label="More thread actions"]` (🆕 named) |
+| `aria-current="page"` | when main is active | when that sidechat is active |
+
 **Distinguishing Main chat from sidechats:** Same `data-testid`. Match on text
 content (`Main chat` vs sidechat title) or check `aria-current="page"`.
+There is **no thread identity in the DOM** — title text (or position +
+`aria-current`) is the only handle. (Search results are the exception:
+`data-value="chat:thread:<uuid>"` — see DOM-SEARCH.md.)
 
-### 3e. "Side chats" section header
+### 3e. "Side chats" section header ✅
 
-```html
-<div class="group/nav-section flex w-full items-center">
-  <h3 class="flex min-w-0 flex-1">
-    <button type="button" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="_r_19e_"
-            class="flex h-9 min-w-0 flex-1 cursor-pointer items-center gap-1 rounded-full px-2.5 text-start ...">
-      <span class="text-subheadline-medium text-text-secondary truncate">Side chats</span>
-      <!-- chevron collapse icon -->
-    </button>
-  </h3>
-  <span class="contents">
-    <button data-testid="hatch-chat-compose" ...>...</button>
-  </span>
-</div>
-```
-
-The `H3 > BUTTON` toggles section collapse (`aria-expanded="true"/"false"`).
-The compose `+` button sits beside it.
+Unchanged: `H3 > BUTTON` toggles section collapse (`aria-expanded="true"/"false"`;
+verified `true` on opm). The compose `+` button sits beside it.
 
 ---
 
-## 4. Panel Open vs Closed — Detection Guide
+## 4. Panel Open vs Closed — Detection Guide ✅
 
-### Reliable signals
+### Reliable signals (✅ all re-verified)
 
 | Signal | Panel OPEN | Panel CLOSED |
 |---|---|---|
 | `[data-testid="hatch-chat-compose"]` exists | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
 | `[data-testid="hatch-thread-row"]` count | ≥ 1 | 0 |
 | Panel shell `innerHTML` | Full nav tree | `""` (empty) |
-| Panel shell `innerText` | `Main chat\njust now\nSide chats\n...` | `""` |
+| Panel shell computed width | `240px` | `0px` |
 
-### Recommended checks (in order of reliability)
+### Recommended checks (in order of reliability) ✅ unchanged
 
 ```javascript
 // BEST: panel is open and ready for sidechat creation
@@ -279,16 +274,17 @@ const panelOpenAlt = shell && shell.innerHTML !== "";
 const rowCount = document.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="hatch-thread-row"]').length;
 ```
 
-### Signals that DO NOT work
+### Signals that DO NOT work ✅ unchanged
 
 | Signal | Why it fails |
 |---|---|
-| `document.body.innerText.includes('Side chats')` | **False positive.** Body text contains "Side chats" in both states — it matches the switcher's sr-only text `"Open chat and side chats"` and chat message content. |
-| `document.body.innerText.includes('Main chat')` | Same problem — matches message content. |
-| Switcher `aria-expanded` | Never set (`null` in both states). |
-| `a[href*="/thread/"]` links | **Zero exist.** Panel rows are `DIV[role=button]`, not anchors. |
+| `document.body.innerText.includes('Side chats')` | **False positive.** Matches the switcher's sr-only text and message content |
+| `document.body.innerText.includes('Main chat')` | Same problem — matches message content |
+| Switcher `aria-expanded` | Never set (`null` in both states) |
+| `a[href*="/thread/"]` links | **Zero exist.** Panel rows are `DIV[role=button]`, not anchors |
+| Switcher visible text | 🔧 **Dynamic** — shows the active chat title, not panel state |
 
-### Safe toggle sequence
+### Safe toggle sequence ✅ (behavior verified both directions 2026-10-04)
 
 ```javascript
 // 1. Detect actual panel state (not body text)
@@ -305,25 +301,37 @@ const nowOpen = !!document.querySelector('[data-testid="hatch-chat-compose"]');
 if (!nowOpen) throw new Error("Panel did not open");
 ```
 
+Do the detect → click → verify **atomically** (single evaluate + `awaitPromise`)
+— the fleet browsers are live and timer jobs may navigate between separate
+round-trips (see §9).
+
 ---
 
-## 5. Full data-testid Inventory (chat-related)
+## 5. Full data-testid Inventory (chat-related) ✅ (extended 2026-10-04)
 
 Captured on `https://muse.ai/` main chat view. `visible` = computed style check.
+🆕 = found 2026-10-04, not in original capture.
 
 | testid | Tag | aria-label | Notes |
 |---|---|---|---|
 | `hatch-dock-rail` | `DIV` | — | Left dock rail |
-| `hatch-nav-chat` | `A` | `Chat` | Dock nav: Chat |
+| `hatch-dock-rail-divider` | `DIV` | — | Rail divider |
+| `hatch-nav-chat` | `A` | `Chat` | Dock nav: Chat (`href="/"`) |
 | `hatch-nav-search` | `BUTTON` | `Search` | Dock nav: Search |
-| `hatch-nav-system-item-*` | `DIV` | `Feed`/`Ideas`/`Goals`/`Library` | Dock system items |
+| `hatch-nav-system-item-66656564` | `DIV` | `Feed` | 🆕 suffix = hex("feed") |
+| `hatch-nav-system-item-676f616c73` | `DIV` | `Goals` | 🆕 suffix = hex("goals") |
+| `hatch-nav-system-item-6964656173` | `DIV` | `Ideas` | 🆕 suffix = hex("ideas") |
+| `hatch-nav-system-item-6c696272617279` | `DIV` | `Library` | 🆕 suffix = hex("library") |
 | `hatch-dock-more` | `BUTTON` | `Settings` | Dock settings |
+| `app-download-dock-mark` | `DIV` | — | 🆕 App download badge in dock |
 | `hatch-chat-leading-controls` | `DIV` | — | Top-left container for switcher |
-| `hatch-chat-switcher-trigger` | `BUTTON` | — | **Panel toggle** (text: "Chats") |
+| `hatch-chat-switcher-trigger` | `BUTTON` | — | **Panel toggle** (label = active chat title) |
 | `hatch-chat-switcher-icon-knockout` | `SPAN` | — | Icon wrapper |
 | `hatch-chat-switcher-navigation-icon` | `SPAN` | — | Hamburger SVG |
+| `hatch-chat-switcher-unread-indicator` | `SPAN` | — | 🆕 Unread blue dot (see §1b) |
 | `hatch-side-chats-open-drag-handle` | `DIV` | — | Panel resize handle |
-| `hatch-side-chats-panel-shell` | `DIV` | — | **Panel shell** (always in DOM) |
+| `hatch-side-chats-open-drag-handle-divider-line` | `DIV` | — | 🆕 Handle divider |
+| `hatch-side-chats-panel-shell` | `DIV` | — | **Panel shell** (always in DOM, §8 excepted) |
 | `hatch-side-chats-panel-sliding-surface` | `DIV` | — | Open-state sliding surface |
 | `hatch-side-chats-panel-content` | `DIV` | — | Panel content wrapper |
 | `hatch-chat-search-toolbar` | `DIV` | — | Search toolbar (60px) |
@@ -335,27 +343,40 @@ Captured on `https://muse.ai/` main chat view. `visible` = computed style check.
 | `active-side-chat-load-more-sentinel` | `DIV` | — | Infinite scroll sentinel |
 | `hatch-invite-friends-button` | `BUTTON` | `Invite` | Invite button |
 | `hatch-composer-placeholder-overlay` | `SPAN` | — | Message input placeholder |
+| `hatch-composer-stop-button` | `BUTTON` | — | 🆕 Stop-generation button (in composer) |
 | `hatch-status-panel-sliding-surface` | `DIV` | — | Agent status panel |
+| `hatch-status-panel-close` | `DIV` | — | 🆕 Status panel (closed state) |
+| `hatch-status-panel-close-toolbar` | `DIV` | — | 🆕 |
+| `hatch-status-panel-close-drag-handle` | `DIV` | — | 🆕 |
+| `hatch-status-panel-close-drag-handle-divider-line` | `DIV` | — | 🆕 |
 | `hatch-browser-task-banner-host` | `DIV` | — | Task banner (hidden) |
 
+**🆕 `hatch-nav-system-item-*` suffixes are hex-encoded names** (verified):
+`66656564`→`feed`, `676f616c73`→`goals`, `6964656173`→`ideas`,
+`6c696272617279`→`library` — each matches the element's `aria-label`.
+Do not hardcode the full testid; match on the decoded suffix or aria-label.
+
 ---
 
-## 6. Automation Notes
+## 6. Automation Notes ✅ (extended)
 
-1. **Ctrl+J is unreliable** as a generic panel toggle. It navigates toward main chat
-   but does not guarantee the panel ends up open. Prefer the detect → click-switcher
-   → verify sequence in §4.
+1. **Ctrl+J is unreliable** as a generic panel toggle. Prefer the detect →
+   click-switcher → verify sequence in §4.
 
-2. **The `+` button has no text.** Never search for `"+"` text — the button contains
-   only an SVG. Use `[data-testid="hatch-chat-compose"]` or `aria-label="New side chat"`.
+2. **The `+` button has no text.** Never search for `"+"` text — use
+   `[data-testid="hatch-chat-compose"]` or `aria-label="New side chat"`.
 
-3. **After creating a sidechat**, the browser navigates to `https://muse.ai/thread/new`.
-   This stripped state has no switcher/panel — navigate back to `https://muse.ai/`
-   (or click Main chat) before the next panel operation.
+3. **After creating a sidechat**, the browser navigates to
+   `https://muse.ai/thread/new`. This **stripped state** has no switcher at
+   all (§8) — click `[data-testid="hatch-nav-chat"]` (or navigate to
+   `https://muse.ai/`) before the next panel operation. Navigating to
+   `/thread/new` and back creates nothing server-side until a message is sent.
 
-4. **Sidechat rows are not links.** To open a specific sidechat, click its
-   `DIV[data-testid="hatch-thread-row"]` (match by inner `span[title]` text).
-   There is no URL to navigate to directly until the thread UUID is known.
+4. **Sidechat rows are not links and carry no identity.** To open a specific
+   sidechat, click its `DIV[data-testid="hatch-thread-row"]` (match by inner
+   `span[title]` text). There is no URL to navigate to directly until the
+   thread UUID is known — capture it from `location.href` after the first
+   message (poll `/thread/new` → `/thread/<uuid>`).
 
 5. **Thread UUID capture:** After sending the first message in a new sidechat,
    `window.location.href` transitions from `/thread/new` to `/thread/<uuid>`.
@@ -365,3 +386,77 @@ Captured on `https://muse.ai/` main chat view. `visible` = computed style check.
 
 7. **The "Side chats" H3 is collapsible** (`aria-expanded`). If rows are missing
    while the panel is open, check whether the section is collapsed.
+
+8. 🆕 **Switcher label is the active chat title** — never match on it for state.
+   Use compose presence (§4).
+
+9. 🆕 **Unread detection:** `[data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-unread-indicator"]`
+   presence, or `/^\(\d+\)/` prefix on `document.title`.
+
+---
+
+## 7. Panel innerText Format (reference) ✅
+
+Open panel shell `innerText` (opm, 26 rows), for text-based fallbacks:
+
+```
+Main chat\n\n2m\nSide chats\n\nCheck the board\n\n1m\n\nAlign chat and board API\n\n4m\n\n…
+```
+
+Pattern: `<title>\n\n<relative-ts>\n\n…`. Timestamps are relative
+(`just now`, `1m`, `4m`, `11m`). The `H3` contributes the literal `Side chats`
+line — which is why body-text matching for panel state is unreliable (§4).
+
+---
+
+## 8. Stripped State: `/thread/new` 🆕 (verified 2026-10-04)
+
+After clicking compose (before any message is sent), the browser is at
+`https://muse.ai/thread/new`. The chat chrome is **stripped**:
+
+| Element | State |
+|---|---|
+| `[data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-trigger"]` | **ABSENT** — not just closed, gone from DOM |
+| `[data-testid="hatch-side-chats-panel-shell"]` | Present, `innerHTML` empty, computed width `0px` |
+| `[data-testid="hatch-chat-compose"]` | Absent |
+| `[data-testid="hatch-thread-row"]` | 0 |
+| `[data-testid="hatch-chat-leading-controls"]` | Present (empty container) |
+| `[data-testid="hatch-nav-chat"]` | ✅ Present — `A`, `aria-label="Chat"`, `href="/"` — **the recovery path** |
+| Dock rail, `hatch-chat-nav-fade`, drag handle | Present |
+
+**Recovery (verified):** click `[data-testid="hatch-nav-chat"]` or set
+`location.href = 'https://muse.ai/'`. This is the click-based activation from
+the 72574ba fix — do NOT use Ctrl+J here (unreliable in stripped states).
+
+**Automation rule:** any panel operation must first assert the switcher exists.
+If `!document.querySelector('[data-testid="hatch-chat-switcher-trigger"]')`,
+you are in the stripped state — recover via `hatch-nav-chat` before proceeding.
+
+---
+
+## 9. Per-Node Differences 🆕 (verified 2026-10-04)
+
+| Node | CDP | Page title | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| `opm` | 9440 | `Chat — operator-main` | 26 panel rows at capture; doc baseline |
+| `muse` | 9410 | `Chat — muse` | Unread indicator present at capture; panel closed |
+| `pip` | 9420 | `(1) Chat — operator-pip` | `(1)` = unread count in title; panel was OPEN while on a `/thread/<uuid>` page — panel open-state persists across thread navigation |
+
+All panel selectors, toggle behavior, and detection signals are identical
+across nodes. Only titles, row contents, and unread state differ.
+
+---
+
+## 10. Probing Methodology Notes 🆕
+
+- Drive the DOM via CDP `Runtime.evaluate` (`returnByValue: true`).
+- The fleet browsers are **live**: timer jobs (e.g. heartbeat every 5 min)
+  navigate the same pages. Non-atomic probe sequences (click → separate
+  round-trip → read) can race with job navigation and produce misleading
+  results. Do toggle tests **atomically**: click + wait + snapshot in a single
+  evaluate with `awaitPromise: true`.
+- `document.title` is `Muse` during load and becomes `Chat — <account>`
+  (optionally `(N)`-prefixed) once settled — don't assert titles too early.
+- Sibling inspectors share `/tmp` on bl: namespace probe files
+  (e.g. `/tmp/dip1_*.js`) — a generic `/tmp/cdp_eval.py` was overwritten
+  mid-task by another agent.