- MIT becomes the first university to adopt an open-access policy for faculty research papers, a milestone noted in the channel and linked to broader discussions on open science.  
- A 2009 Gutowski paper on “Thermodynamic Analysis of Resources Used in Manufacturing Processes” is circulated (PDF link provided) as relevant background reading for resource-efficiency arguments.  
- Participants debate the practical value of GNU/open-source tools versus purely social or philosophical arguments about “openness,” with frustration expressed that many commentators ignore the technical merits.  
- DIY microfluidic DNA synthesis is highlighted: a collection of papers on microfluidic oligo synthesizers and “single-step assembly of a gene and entire plasmid from large numbers of oligonucleotides” is shared at http://heybryan.org/books/papers/microfluidics/synthesis/.  
- Novel STM/AFM-based DNA sequencing is discussed: Stuart Lindsay’s hydrogen-bond–sensing scanning tunneling spectroscopy approach is introduced, with a direct link to the 2009 Nature Nanotechnology Letters PDF supplied.  
- “Transhumanism@home” BOINC team and other distributed-computing initiatives are promoted as ways for the community to donate cycles to AI and longevity research.  
- Practical maker notes include sourcing paraffin wax for microfluidic or batik-style fabrication, with suggestions to check local art-supply co-ops.  
- A brief exchange on multi-monitor setups (dual- and triple-screen wallpapers, 1920×1080 flat-panel upgrades replacing CRTs) illustrates the community’s emphasis on maximizing screen real estate for research workflows.